A SIGNIFICANT feat for the province of Davao Oriental is this year’s Seal of Good Local Governance award that made a mark for the province as the only one to be recognized among Davao Region’s five provinces.
In a report published in Davao Oriental’s official website based from the article written by Ferdinand Zuasola, the Department of the Interior and Local Government says the Seal of Good Local Governance awarded to Davao Oriental on November 28 “symbolizes integrity and good performance through continuing governance reform and sustained local development. It is a progressive assessment system adopted by the Department to give distinction to remarkable local government performance across several areas.”
The province of Davao Oriental together with other SGLG awardees are eligible to access the Performance Challenge fund of the national government to finance local development initiatives in furtherance of national goals and strategic thrusts. LGU access to other program windows and capacity development assistance from the DILG will form part of the incentives package, subject to national policies and guidelines.
From the Davao Oriental website, the province of Davao Oriental passed in four core areas, namely, Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, and Peace and Order and other essential areas like the Business-friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Protection and Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
On Financial Administration, the DILG cited the practice of accountability of the local government unit and transparency by adherence to accounting and auditing standards and compliance with the Full Disclosure Policy (Good Financial Housekeeping); sound management of resources (Financial Performance); and optimal utilization of available mechanisms and resources to support local development (Financing Development).
On Disaster Preparedness, the DILG cited the province’s proactive actions to prepare for disasters through mobilization of local disaster risk reduction management structures and systems; development and implementation of appropriate programs and plans and the use of funds provided; building competencies of concerned personnel; and ensuring operational readiness with the availability of equipage, supplies and other resources intended for early warning and response.
On Social Protection, the DILG cited Davao Oriental’s actions to respond to the needs of disadvantaged sectors like women, children, senior citizens, indigenous peoples and persons with disability, urban poor, among others, by managing facilities or services that cater to their needs such as residential care facilities; providing support to basic education and accessibility features in local government buildings; enhancing means of social welfare services; providing housing; and ensuring participation of the sectors in local special bodies and in the local Sanggunian.
On Peace and Order, the DILG cited the provincial government’s efforts in maintaining peace and order with the implementation of activities and providing support mechanisms to protect constituents from threats to life and security; and ensuring drug-free communities.
On Business-friendliness and Competitiveness, the DILG cited the provincial government’s actions to bring about business and employment opportunities through systems, structures and legislation to support local economic development.
On Environmental Management, the DILG cited the provincial government’s efforts in safeguarding the integrity of the environment with initial focus on the compliance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
On Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, the DILG cited the provincial government’s efforts to promote and develop the local tourism, preserve and enrich cultural heritage, and advance creativity through local support.
According to Yvette Tolentino-Sunga, DILG’s provincial director in Davao Oriental, the provincial government will be conferred with a 2017 SGLG awardee’s marker and a special for consistently passing all assessment areas for the three periods: 2015, 2016 and 2017, as a “unique symbol or mark of outstanding achievement.”
Aside from the Province, Davao Oriental has five municipalities and a city conferred with the SGLG -- Baganga, Banaybanay, Cateel, Governor Generoso, Lupon, Tarragona, and the City of Mati.
Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said that the SGLG “only shows that despite the challenges of local resource limitations and long-entrenched political realities, ethical and effective governance can flourish given the right ingredients and a large measure of selfless leadership.”
It is “a land of opportunity, and we have the opportunity to be a model for the rest of the country".
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Director’s Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, CESO IV, Regional Director, DepED Region 11 to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education). "Let me assure you that in the performance of my official duties and even my private acts will be guided and guarded by my Oath of Office, The Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno, the Philippine Constitution and all the laws that govern our actions.”
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You can access DepEd updates, latest issuances, photos and other relevant information through our website: http://www.deped.gov.ph and our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DepEd.Philippines/.
For queries, complains and other concerns for the different schools divisions email them to davao.city@deped.gov.ph, davao.delsur@deped.gov.ph, davao.delnorte@deped.gov.ph, tagum.city@deped.gov.ph, panabo.city@deped.gov.ph, igacos@deped.gov.ph, davao.oriental@deped.gov.ph, digos.city@deped.gov.ph, mati.city@deped.gov.ph and compostela.valley@deped.gov.ph.