mplied with all the standards of the SGLG per Republic Act 11292 as declared by the Council for Good Local Governance,” said Buctolan.
“Na meet sa LGU ang minimum requirements based sa indicators. Kita sa lungsod ra ang nakadawat sa maong award (sa Siquijor) (The LGU met all the minimum requirements of the indicators. We are the only town that received this award in Siquijor) ,” said Buctolan.
The SGLG assesses LGUs on the following indicators: Good Financial Administration and Sustainability; Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection and Sensitivity; Safety, Peace and Order; Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness; Environmental Management; Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts; Sustainable Education; Health Compliance and Responsiveness; and Youth Development.
Buctolan explained that under the financial indicator, Larena was able to utilize at least 65 percent of its 20 percent development fund.
“Ang ubang LGUs kay wala kaabot sa 65 percent utilization (The other LGUs were not able to utilize 65 percent of their development fund),” she said.
She added that Larena was also able to act upon 30 percent of the audit recommendations they received from the Commission on Audit.
The municipality also implemented 70 percent of its disaster risk reduction and management plan, while its Local Epidemiology Surveillance Unit was rated as functional during the assessment.
Larena Mayor Cyrus Vincent Calibo thanked their stakeholders and partners for helping them win the SGLG award for two years in a row.
“I am very thankful and honored to be given the recognition. I am grateful for all the support, especially from our LGU family, all the barangays, and, of course, to DILG who have been very supportive of our programs. Likewise, LGU Larena is always in support of the DILG programs,” Calibo said.
Buctolan said the town will receive a cash incentive for this recognition.
Last year, Larena received a cash prize of P5 million and a plaque of recognition as an SGLG awardee.
“This year, there is still no specific amount, but there will be a cash prize,” she said.
Prestigious award
The SGLG is the highest recognition and most prestigious award given by DILG to LGUs in the delivery of public service through compliance with national laws and guidelines.
It is a progressive assessment system that gives distinction to remarkable local government performance across several areas.
It also highlights integrity and good performance in institutionalizing local governance reforms in the continuing pursuit of meaningful local autonomy and development as part of the whole-of-government commitment to bringing about meaningful and lasting reforms.
The SGLG continues to be a significant platform where both national and local levels work together to bring about the vision of inclusive growth and development.
Larena Mayor Cyrus Vincent Calibo with the Plaque of Recognition awarded to Larena as the only municipality in Siquijor province to receive the National Anti-Drug Abuse Council award during the 2023 Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Awards Ceremony in Manila. (DILG photo)
National Anti-Drug Abuse Council awardee
Larena is also one of the 13 LGUs in Central Visayas and the only town in Siquijor province that received the National Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Award from DILG during the 2023 Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Audit Awarding Ceremony in Manila.
Calibo and Buctolan received the P100,000 cash award and plaque of appreciation from DILG.
Larena was recognized for its anti-illegal drugs campaign with the establishment of a Balay Silangan Reformation Center in May this year.
Town officials, together with the Sangguniang Kabataan, DILG, Larena Police Station, and representatives from government line agencies, signed an agreement to work together in running the Balay Silangan Reformation Center.
The center aims to rehabilitate drug personalities who surrendered to authorities by offering them counseling, livelihoods, and other interventions to reform them into self-sufficient and law-abiding citizens.
“Rest assured that we will be here to implement, to be your partner. This is a manifestation for all of us that if we work together, makaya ra nato (we can do it),” said Calibo during the reformation center’s launching.
The ADAC award recognizes the best performing local ADACs that comply with the prescribed indicators and implement anti-illegal drug interventions and initiatives to reduce drug abuse in their areas.
The award aims to incentivize the performance of local ADACs in planning and implementing programs to help stop the supply and demand of illegal drugs and help victims recover from the effects of illegal drugs. (RAC/PIA7 Siquijor)
(L-R) Larena Mayor Cyrus Vincent Calibo and MLGOO Jessie Mary Buctolan receiving the Plaque of Appreciation and P100,000 cash from DILG during the 2023 Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Audit Awarding Ceremony in Manila. (DILG photo)
