LGUs prodded to build resilient, safer communities

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II yesterday urged officials to take advantage of the department’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) program and avail themselves of the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) to help boost local economic development in their respective areas.

Roxas, vice chairman for preparedness of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said local government units (LGUs) should work to strengthen individual and collective resiliency of communities that are at-risk of climate change impacts, with “Yolanda (considered) as the new normal.”

Launched last Jan. 15 during the Good Governance Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, the SGLG aims to recognize LGUs’ adherence to the principle of good governance.

An improved version of the Seal of Good Housekeeping that was started in 2010 by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, the SGLG allows qualified LGUs to implement various development projects.

An LGU awarded with the SGLG may avail itself of the PCF of up to P7 million.

Municipalities and cities may be given P1 million and P3 million, respectively.

Aside from the PCF, qualified LGUs will have access to other national performance-based programs.

A total of 1,372 LGUs or close to 84 percent of the number of LGUs has already met the minimum requirements of good housekeeping.