DILG ups criteria for Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Sept. 27 (PIA):   Local government units (LGUs) would likely find it hard to get the higher level of good housekeeping award as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has raised the standard requirements.

DILG Davao del Norte Provincial Director Alex Roldan in an interview revealed that DILG has “raised  the bar  higher” for the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping due to  be awarded next year for deserving LGUs which would meet the standards.

Other than the basic requirements,  the DILG expects LGUs to have no questionable  financial transactions, no disallowances.

Roldan explained that Seal of Good Housekeeping  only ensures that LGUs have established the proper bidding process which  fosters transparency, and that the civil society sector is well represented in governance.

Along with the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA), the Seal of Good Housekeeping wins people’s appreciation of the government leading to gaining their trust.

But taking a close scrutiny on  the financial management of LGUs will ultimately bring in people’s trust to government.  “People would eventually trust if  they know how their money is being used,”  he said.

Roldan said ordinary Filipinos  may at first not be able to notice  and appreciate  good financial management but he was optimistic that they would eventually cooperate with the government if they see changes in the way it operates.

Meanwhile, Roldan cited the presence of a comprehensive development plan as important in picking the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping as this provides the blueprint of LGUs’ development direction.

“Politicians come and go but the development direction of LGUs stays,”  he said.

To steer the development direction,  Roldan viewed as necessary to strengthen the ranks of career executives  of chief positions, as they stay behind running the government  when politicians leave their positions.

CDP is necessary but only a few LGUs are coming up with it, while those which have it, need to update the plan.

Roldan attributed  the constraint to  the financial capacity of LGUs as CDP processes demands creation of a number of working teams, committees and consultants.   (PIA-11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)