Antique has been elevated to a first-class province and honored with the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award, marking a significant milestone for the region. The announcement was made by Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao during a ceremony in Metro Manila on December 9, 2024. The province’s reclassification from second-class to first-class was confirmed last week by the Department of Finance, driven by an annual average revenue exceeding PHP450 million from taxes and other sources.
Bienvenido Nallos Jr., the acting Provincial Planning and Development Officer, expressed optimism about the future, stating that the new status and award would motivate provincial leaders to enhance their efforts and secure funding for key projects. He highlighted that the reclassification and SGLG award would unlock more economic opportunities and improve access to loans and grants, benefiting the local population.
Nallos, along with other provincial government heads, joined Governor Cadiao in Manila to receive the SGLG award. This marks the third time Antique has been recognized for its excellence in governance, having met all criteria across various areas such as financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, health compliance, sustainable education, business-friendliness, safety, environmental management, tourism, and youth development.
The province plans to utilize the PHP3 million incentive from the SGLG award to fund a priority project, which will be determined in an upcoming meeting with the governor. This development is expected to further enhance the quality of services provided to the residents of Antique.