Bacolod City is a finalist for four national awards.

It is among the three finalists in Western Visayas for the National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (an award for exemplary performance in local governance), aside from being once again a finalist for the Most Child-Friendly City national award.

It is also a finalist this year for the Most Business-Friendly City after having won the award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry three times in the past.

Bacolod City is also one of the eight cities in Region VI to receive the Seal of Good Housekeeping for Local Governments given by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Bacolod was chosen together with Iloilo and San Carlos cities to compete for the National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award (or Gawad), after an initial assessment conducted by the DILG of all local government units in Region VI in three categories – province, city, municipality.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said that, based on the score sheet of the DILG, Bacolod got a perfect score as far as transparency is concerned.

DILG-Bacolod director Dino Ponsaran said this is the first year that the Gawad, which recognizes LGU’s with exemplary performance in governance in the areas of administrative governance, social services, economic development and environmental management, has been launched.

In determining the best performing LGU’s and the special awardees,  the DILG identified the winners based on the results of the customized “LGPMS-Data Capture Form,” acknowledged LGU innovations and awards received from recognized award-giving bodies.

EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE

Meanwhile, Ponsaran said the Seal of Good Housekeeping is given to LGU’s with exemplary performance in terms of fiscal management and in terms of accountability and transparency.

If an LGU is conferred the Seal of Good Housekeeping, it should have sound fiscal management, which means it has no adverse Commission on Audit findings, he said. Also, that LGU is accountable and transparent which means that its financial transactions are made known to the public, he added.

Having been conferred the Seal of Good Housekeeping means Bacolod has surpassed these criteria, Ponsaran said.

For Region VI, Bacolod is one of the eight cities given the Seal, he said.

CHILD-FRIENDLY

On the other hand, Social Welfare Officer IV Fely Caras said Bacolod has continually been a finalist for the Most Child-Friendly Award since 2000 up to the present, except in 2005 and 2007 when there was a moratorium.

She said regional evaluators told them that, based on the result of their feed-backing, Bacolod City and the mayor, together with other officials have provided programs, services and activities to children.

Leonardia also said he is glad that once again the PCCI has chosen Bacolod as finalist for Most Business-Friendly City after having been adjudged as the Most Business-Friendly City in the Visayas three times in the past, twice in 2006 and in 2007 as the Most Business-Friendly in the Philippines.

“I would like to state that we have consistency in so far as the business climate in Bacolod is concerned. No wonder buildings are sprouting up left and right,” he said.

Leonardia said the squabble between SM and Ayala was flattering for Bacolod because, if these titans in business are fighting over the opportunity to do business in Bacolod, it shows that there is a goldmine in the city.

“All these are because of our people being entrepreneurs and because of their spirit in trying to be innovative and always struggling for excellence,” he said.

Leonardia appealed to his political detractors to cooperate with the administration if they also want Bacolod to progress, since elections are still far away.*CGS

back to top