SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) –  The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 1 and its La Union office, and the Local Government of Bacnotan inaugurated a Senior Citizen's Wellness and Recreational Facility in Brgy. Nagsimbaanan in Bacnotan town on Jan. 9.

The project, which cost around P4.9 million, was funded by the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Incentive Fund after LGU Bacnotan was conferred with the SGLG in 2022.

The said facility is expected to cater to around 5,800 senior citizens in the said municipality.

DILG Region 1 Assistant Regional Director Paulino G. Lalata Jr. said the inauguration of the senior citizen facility is a testament to the unity and cooperation of the people of the town to hurdle all the requirements needed in order to receive the incentive fund and kickstart the construction of the facility.

“Nagasat iti [senior citizens] iti ili ti Bacnotan… Daytoy kariga[t] na nga [requirements iti] SGLG, na-comply mo, naaramidmo, kayat na a sawen sisipudno ken sipapasnek a nagtrabaho ti leaders iti Bacnotan,” Lalata said.

(The senior citizens here in Bacnotan are blessed… Though the requirements of the SGLG are difficult, it was complied and all the requirements were met, which means the leaders here in Bacnotan were eager and focused on their work.)

Bacnotan Mayor Divina C. Fontanilla meanwhile expressed her gratitude to the DILG for the provision of funds, enabling the local government to construct a facility that has been a dream for senior citizens of the town.

“Thank you sa DILG at na-awardan tayo ng SGLG at siyang naging susi para sa proyektong ito. Dream come true para sa mga [senior citizens] ng Bacnotan kasi mayroon na silang one-of-a-kind building,” Fontanilla said.

The institutionalization of R.A. 11292 otherwise known as the Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019 enables the provision of a SGLG Incentive Fund, a performance challenge fund awarded to local governments which are able to hurdle various local governance criteria to be eligible for the grant. (JCR/MJTAB/CCMT, PIA La Union)