PIA Press Release
Monday, January 16, 2012

DILG stamps seal of good housekeeping on 35 East Visayas LGUs

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan 16 (PIA) –- A total of 35 local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas have been granted the Seal of Good Housekeeping by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

This came about as the DILG bared the third wave of LGUs that have been given the coveted seal, Myles Colasito informed the local media in the recently held Harampang Ha PIA.

Colasito identified the recipients of the Seal of Good Housekeeping in the third wave of evaluation as the provincial government of Biliran, together with the municipalities of Cabucgayan, Kawayan, and Maripipi; the provincial government of Eastern Samar together with the municipalities of Balangiga, Dolores, Hernani, Maydolong, San Julian, and Sulat.

In the province of Leyte, the latest recipients were Tacloban City, Babatngon, Calubian, Dagami, Palo, and Tanauan; while in Northern Samar, the provincial government and the municipality of San Isidro; in Southern Leyte, Maasin City and the municipalities of Hinundayan and Macrohon; and in Samar, the municipalities of Calbiga and Marabut.

In the first wave of evaluation for the Seal of Good Housekeeping, only the municipality of Kawayan in Biliran was included.

For the second wave of evaluation, the Seal of Good Housekeeping was given to the municipalities of Almeria, Biliran and Naval in Biliran; Guiuan in Eastern Samar; the provincial Government of Leyte together with the municipalities of Alang-Alang, Burauen and Jaro and the City of Ormoc; Laoang in Northern Samar; and Hinunangan in Southern Leyte.

The Seal of Good Housekeeping is a set of criteria aimed at recognizing LGUs with good performance in internal housekeeping particularly on the areas of Sound Fiscal Management, Transparency and Accountability, and Valuing Performance Management. Information on the last part is taken from the agency’s own Local Governance Performance Management System.

Among the key components in the SGH criteria are compliance to the DILG’s Full Disclosure Policy, and acceptable levels of findings from the Commission on Audit.

LGUs that will pass the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) can avail of the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF). The PCF is an incentive fund to LGUs in the form of counterpart fund for projects to be financed from the 20 percent component of the LGU’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Eligible LGUs may use the PCF for projects meant to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); boost economic development; or those to help communities adapt to climate change and prepare LGUs for disaster. (PIA 8)