JVR indirectly hits back at Gullas

CEBU, Philippines – Through what seemed to be a subliminal message, Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes yesterday hit back at former mayor and congressman Eduardo Gullas for being a critic of his administration.

"Kung imong mabasa sa mga newspaper, ako ang ilang gibasol ug hinungdan nganong dili ta recipient (of Department of Interior and Local Government's Good Financial Housekeeping) unya tawgon pa ta og inept," De los Reyes said.

Gullas earlier criticized the current administration for not getting the recognition from the DILG.

Reports said only Talisay, a second class city with the biggest population in the first district of Cebu, failed to get the 2014 Good Financial Housekeeping recognition.

Aimed at providing greater challenge for local government units to strive for better services and good governance, SGH is needed for LGUs to qualify for the Seal of Good Local Governance.

To qualify, the LGU must pass all the three core assessments areas: GFH, social protection and disaster preparedness. In addition, it must pass at least one of the essential assessment areas of business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order or environmental management.

SGLG's objective is to sustain not only the LGUs' practice of accountability and transparency but also in the fields of disaster readiness, business-friendly climate, protection of the marginalized sectors and the environment.

Gullas criticized De los Reyes' conduct when the mayor failed to show up at the signing of a lease agreement with a private firm, saying it may have sent the wrong signal to investors, prompting the investor of a shipping company concerned to describe the city as "sick."

Gullas said it is not the city that is sick but "the leadership that is inept."

But De los Reyes said that the city government is striving hard to gain recognitions.

"Not only to garner the DILG award but for the betterment and efficiency of Talisay City government," the mayor added.

Chiong elated

In a separate development, City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong was happy for another award for the city.

"It goes to show that our city, though young as it is, is providing excellent service to its constituents," said the visibly elated mayor upon learning of the award.

In 2012, the city government of Naga, Cebu received its second SGH (Silver Grade) award from the DILG, making it eligible to access to national program windows such as the Bottoms Up Budgeting, Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan and Provision of Potable Water Program.

The first one, an SGH bronze plaque, came in 2011 which recognized the city's performance in internal housekeeping such as good planning, sound fiscal management, transparency and accountability and valuing performance management.

In that same year, the city was awarded by the Bureau of Local Government Finance as best tax collector in Central Visayas due to its efficient collection of real properties, besting 15 other cities in the region with a collection efficiency of 522.47 percent.