Ilocos Norte cited for good governance

Tri-blade modern windmills line the lush coastal area in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. File photo |

By Ariel Paolo Tejada via Philstar  

LAOAG CITY, Philippines - Despite being hit by Supertyphoon Lawin, Ilocanos have a reason to celebrate as the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte will receive its 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on October 27.

The DILG identified Ilocos Norte as one of the best local government units (LGUs) in terms of financial administration, social protection and disaster preparedness.

The DILG conducts a nationwide assessment of LGUs from March to September this year, targeting the abovementioned three core components of the SGLG.

Ilocos Norte also met the measures for all three essential areas of the SGLG: business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order, and environmental management.

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Bearing the SGLG entitles the province to access the Performance Challenge Fund (PC Fund), an incentive to LGUs in the form of counterpart funding to selected high-impact capital investment projects.

The PC Fund seeks "to rationalize national government intergovernmental transfers to LGUs, and encourage alignment of local development initiatives with national government development agenda and priorities."

In addition, Ilocos Norte will be entitled to the facilitation of loan approval through the issuance of the Good Financial Housekeeping Certification, and other program windows subject to respective guidelines.

In 2013, the provincial government's efficient document tracking system stood out from the best practices that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) took notice, making it the first Philippine province to become fully-ISO compliant.