The Sanguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City bagged the National Award for Excellence in Local Legislation for this year, belying the claims of critics that it is a rubber stamp of the local chief executive of the city.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said that despite the many harsh criticisms against the members of the SP, this is the first time such recognition was given to the City of Bacolod, proving their critics wrong.

He said he was invited by the Department of Interior and Local Government to attend the awarding rites in Cebu and was surprised to learn that the City of Bacolod has been adjudged this year’s top performing legislative body.

Sayson said he wore a semi-formal attire to the awarding ceremony, thinking it was just a simple giving of certificates of recognition for all the finalists of the Philippine Councilor’s League best legislative body award nationwide.

He said he had no first hand knowledge that the city had won in the national level and was only surprised to learn that the City of Bacolod, which represented Western Visayas for the highly urbanized /independent component category, bested other local governments in the National Capital Region.

Sayson said Bacolod tied with Cebu City for the highest award that is being given to top performing local legislative body once in every three years.

He said Western Visayas got three out of the four awards -  the highly urbanized city category won by Bacolod, the 3rd- 4th class municipality category bagged by Oton in Iloilo, and the 5th- 6th class municipality category won by Anilao also in Iloilo province.

Sayson said the city had performed beyond the requirements of the DILG for a local legislative body, which he attributed to all employees working with the SP.

He thanked them for their selfless effort and unquestionable support to the city council, especially those responsible for preparing the documentation and paper work needed by the DILG, he said.*CGS

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