Bago City bags top awards for Excellence in Local Governance

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The city government of Bago in Negros Occidental bagged top awards in two categories of this year’s Search for Excellence in Local Governance (Excell Awards) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-6.

The city was cited for Excellence in Administrative Governance for its Bago Rewards Plus Program and Excellence in Economic Governance for its Food Staple Sufficiency Program.

Councilors Ma. Josefa Matti, Carlos Mondia, Ma. Femmy Alvarez-Martir and Joseph Colmenares, along with City Local Government Operations Officer Mia Asuncion Gatilogo received the awards from DILG-6 officials led by regional director Juan Jovian Ingeniero during the Pagdayaw 2022 held at Diversion 21 Hotel in Iloilo City last Monday.

In four other categories, Bago City placed first runner-up in Excellence in Environmental Governance, and second runner-up in Excellence in Public Safety, Peace and Order, Excellence in Local Legislation and Excellence in Social Governance.

Overall, the city was adjudged first runner-up as best performing city in the region.

In fact, it is the lone city in the province to be shortlisted in the prestigious award along with the cities of Iloilo and Passi.

Mayor Nicholas Yulo, said they are truly humbled and grateful that the city’s best practices have been recognized in the whole region.

Yulo earlier said that the best practices submitted by the city for evaluation were all implemented in the name of public service and these were able to touch the lives of the people of Bago.

“This is a manifestation of how hardworking and dedicated to public service the employees of Bago City Hall are. To them we dedicate these distinctions,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile, Gatilogo said these new recognitions are a validation and product of the strong collaboration and teamwork of the local officials, employees, and the entire Bagonhon community.

“Through this award, we are able to see where we excel. But more than that, this is also a manifestation that we still have to improve in other areas,” Gatilogo said, adding that being included in the top three is already a big achievement.

She also stressed that having these awards shows that the city government is not just compliant with local and national laws.

It excels because of the innovations and strategies it initiates to ensure effective and efficient implementation of programs and services, she said.

The Excell Awards is a continuing project of DILG-6 which recognizes the best-managed local government units (LGUs) in the region that demonstrate best practices, achievements and innovations in governance, administration, social services, economic development, environmental management, local legislation, as well as public safety, peace and order.

With a theme “Charting our Future with Inspired Excellence”, the award also aims to advocate for transparency and accountability in governance, positively reinforce good performers, popularize replicable best practices and identify possible interventions to improve the LGU performance.