Law institutionalizing good governance award signed

MANILA, Philippines — A law institutionalizing the award of the Seal of Good Local Governance to push more provinces, cities and municipalities to operate with more efficiency, effectivity and accountability has been signed.

 President Duterte signed Republic Act 11292 on April 12. A copy of the law was released yesterday.

The Seal of Good Local Governance recognizes  “transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, preparedness during disasters, sensitivity to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the society, implementation of health programs, investment and employment promotion, protection of constituency from threats to life and damage to property and safeguarding the integrity of the environment” of local government units (LGUs). 

It also recognizes LGUs for implementing and sustaining health policies and programs that promote the well-being, health  and safety of the public as well as ensuring that vulnerable sectors have opportunities for better health, instituting education reforms and programs to improve the quality of education and encouraging pro-competitive policies and government interventions to promote market efficiency and consumer welfare. 

LGUs that safeguard and preserve the integrity of the environment through adaptive social responsibility are also entitled to the award. 

The law calls for the establishment of a Council of Good Local Governance to be composed of representatives from the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Budget and Management, Finance, Health, Social Welfare and Development, Education, Tourism and Environment and Natural Resources as well as National Economic and Development Authority and Office of Civil Defense to ensure the proper implementation of the award.