The Local Government of Lasam has just been awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for 2022 by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). This is the first time that the Municipality of Lasam, under the leadership of Mayor Dante Dexter A. Agatep, has satisfactorily met the metrics of excellence in local governance.
For a city, province, or a municipality to earn the SGLG, it should get satisfactory ratings in the following areas: Financial Administration; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection and Sensitivity Programs; Business Friendliness and Competitiveness; Safety, Peace and Order; Environmental Management; Health Compliance and Responsiveness; Programs for Sustainable Education; Tourism, Heritage Development and Culture and Arts; and Youth Development.
The officials and staff of the Local Government Unit of Lasam are ecstatic and sentimental after learning they have clinched the award. The quest for SGLG entails thorough evaluation of records, reports, and other necessary documentations. Upon the instruction and motivation of Mayor Agatep, the respective heads of LGU-Lasam rallied together with their staff to prepare the requirements for evaluation and validation by the DILG, ensuring compliance with the specifics of the criteria mentioned above.
Rodel Urian, Head of the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO), is particularly proud of this honor as his office is in charge with the orchestration and implementation of major LGU projects that are responsive to the needs of Lasameños, based on the Natalged a Lasam Goal Pillars, and aligned with the DILG programs. "I only half-expected this," he said grinning from ear to ear. The other department heads share the same sentiment, including the barangay chairmen, who are doing their part in good local governance and public service.
Mayor Dante Dexter A. Agatep has expressed his jubilation for Lasam being awarded the Seal for the first time and immediately congratulated and extended his gratitude to all Lasam-LGU officials and employees who have contributed to this accolade.
Cities, municipalities, and provinces aspire to earn a Seal of Good Local Governance for validation of their excellence in public service, and for the additional budgetary allocation an awardee stands to receive to be used for qualified projects and programs to benefit their constituency.
From the DILG list of SGLG awardees in the municipality category, Lasam is included among the 10 municipal awardees from the province of Cagayan. The other nine are Alcala, Allacapan, Calamaniugan, Gonzaga, Iguig, Lallo, Sta. Teresita, Sanchez Mira, and Solana. #
– Alfred Ursua