The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) conferred the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) to the City Government of Candon as one of the recipients during the recognition rites at Oasis Country Resort, San Fernando City, La Union recently.

City Vice-mayor Alfonso D. Singson represented the city and received the certificate from DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and DILG Region 1 Director Manuel V. Biason.

Also present during the awarding ceremony were Provincial Governors Amado Espino of Pangasinan, Luis “Chavit” Singson of Ilocos Sur, Sanggunian Panlalawigan Member Francisco Ortega Jr., and Ilocos Norte Provincial Administrator Atty. Windell Chua.

Siingson encouraged then thru memorandum 08-002-2011 the City Treasurer’s Office, City Budget Office, City Accounting Office, City Planning and Development Council, City Engineering Office, City General Services Office and the City Information Office to “continue the transparency in posting financial reports/documents as it promotes information on transactions of the city local government to the public.”

Examples of items that need to be posted covers Annual Budget Report, Annual Procurement Plan, Annual GAD Accomplishment Report, Quarterly Statement of Cash Flows, Bid Results on Civil Works and Good Services and 20% Component of the IRA Utilization.

Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) checks amounting to PhP 1 million for the 4^th - 5^th income class municipalities and Php 3 million for the cities belonging to same income class were also received by the SGH awardees. And about Php 58 million were given to the SGH awardess of Region 1.

"Let us continue supporting the DILG memorandum circular No.  2011-95 on the Seal of Good Housekeeping as it encourages transparency in our government” expressed CLGOO Engr. Andres Vendiola.

As part of President Benigno Aquino III’s agenda on transparency in public office, the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2010-83 entitled “Full Disclosure of Local Budget and Finances, Bids, and Public Offerings” will officially become compulsory as per Section 90 of Republic Act 2011, also known as the 2011 General Appropriations Act.

The award by DILG recognizes the efforts of different LGUs nationwide that practice Good Planning, Sound Fiscal Management, Transparency and Accountability, and Valuing of Performance Monitoring.

There were 23 LGUs of Ilocos Sur that received the SGH, while Ilocos Norte got 11 and La Union and Pangasinan each got 9.