San Carlos City, located in the northern part of Negros Occidental, has distinguished itself as the only city in the Visayas to secure the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award for the eighth consecutive year. The accolade was presented during a ceremony at The Tent City of The Manila Hotel, where Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla honored the city alongside 21 other local government units (LGUs) nationwide that have achieved this feat since the SGLG’s inception in 2014.
Mayor Renato Gustilo of San Carlos City expressed immense pride in this achievement, emphasizing the collective effort of public servants, partners, and community members. He highlighted the significance of being the only city in the Visayan region to reach this milestone, attributing it to hard work and unity.
In addition to San Carlos, several other cities in Negros Occidental, including Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, La Carlota, Sagay, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias, were also recognized with the SGLG award for 2024. The province of Negros Occidental and the highly urbanized Bacolod City joined the list of recipients. Among the municipalities, EB Magalona, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, and Manapla were honored.
The DILG announced that all awardees would receive an SGLG marker and an SGLG Incentive Fund, aimed at supporting local development initiatives that align with national goals and strategic thrusts. This year’s assessment criteria have been enhanced to focus more on outcome-based measures, aiming to promote public accountability and reform.
To qualify for the SGLG, an LGU must excel in various governance areas such as financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, health compliance, sustainable education, business-friendliness, safety and peace, environmental management, and youth development, among others.