The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) conferred to the Municipality of Binalonan its fourth Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), proving that it has achieved the highest standards of transparency, efficiency and accountability for local government units.

In a national awarding ceremony held Nov. 6 at the Manila Hotel, Mayor Ramon. V. Guico III, together with Vice-Mayor Melicio F. Patague II , DILG-MLGOO Norman V. Ramos and MPDC Elizabeth B. Aquino received the award given by DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año. Present onstage during the awarding, were Senators Loren B. Legarda and Edgardo M. Angara.

The SGLG is awarded by the DILG to a local government unit for successfully passing the ALL-IN criteria of the 2018 SGLG. Instead of using the previous assessment method called “4+1” where LGUs need to pass four core areas and one essential area, the department has required LGUs to pass in seven areas in the latest assessment. Aside from increasing the requirements, the department also imposed stricter rules on the seven governance areas, which cover financial which include the seven core components: financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, peace and order, business friendliness and competitiveness, environmental protection, and tourism, culture and the arts.

Based on the SGLG 2018 list, 23 out of the 44 towns in the Province of Pangasinan were conferred of the award.

Binalonan credits the award from the unwavering cooperation of the municipal officials led by Mayor Guico, Vice-Mayor Patague, SB members and Norman V. Ramos, MLGO with the LGU department heads and employees and its citizens.

“The SGLG award is an indication of how the municipal government offer and perform good governance and earnest services to the community,” Guico said.