Realizing the vision of a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat ng Pilipino has never been more challenging for local governments in the face of the new normal. Yet, there has also never been a more appropriate time to recalibrate the whole-of-government efforts in bringing about lasting reform towards building a stronger, more resilient Philippines.

We are pleased to announce the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11292, or The SGLG Act!

The SGLG Act aims to strengthen existing performance assessment mechanisms currently in place for local government units (LGUs). Correspondingly, its IRR is designed to guide LGUs in improving service delivery and actualizing development goals around the country.

The IRR of the SGLG Act is a product of collaboration among the Council of Good Local Governance (CGLG) composed of representatives from ten national government agencies: the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Office of Civil Defense (OCD); and one representative from the basic sectors nominated by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).

The creation of the CGLG paves the way to more comprehensive integration and streamlining of national efforts in achieving sustainable development. CGLG has been and will continue to be a platform for interest groups to represent and propose various initiatives concerning local governance.

The IRR of the SGLG Act also highlights the expansion of performance areas from seven (7) to 10. These are the original seven areas of (1) Financial Administration; (2) Disaster Preparedness; (3) Social Protection; (4) Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness; (5) Peace and Order; (6) Environmental Management; and (7) Tourism, Culture and the Arts, plus the additional governance areas of (8) Health Compliance and Responsiveness; (9) Sustainable Education; and (10) Youth Development.

As the performance criteria is scaled up, intervention packages will also be designed by the different members of the CGLG in their respective agencies to progressively incentivize and meet the capacity-building needs of the LGUs.

Since its inception in 2014, the SGLG has become a symbol that inspired local governments to be relentless in scaling-up their capacities for improved performance; a rallying cry that beckoned each and all towards the path of building prosperous, happy communities. The road may be long, but we at the DILG will continue to join LGUs in this path, as partners and allies, in achieving our shared ideals.

Mabuhay kayo, mga tapat at mahuhusay na pamahalaang lokal!