The city government of Biñan, Laguna under Mayor Arman Dimaguila is set to close the year 2024 on a high note. The reason: a whole line-up of recognitions and awards from national government agencies in the past weeks, which officials say is the best gift the city government could receive.
The city government of Biñan, Laguna under Mayor Arman Dimaguila is set to close the year 2024 on a high note.
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This, as the LGU received what officials say is the best gift the city government could receive: a whole line-up of recognitions and awards from national government agencies in the past weeks.
For Mayor Dimaguila, these awards and recognitions once again prove that “Sa Lungsod ng Biñan, mamamayan ay maaasahan” – a long-standing mantra of the city government, emphasizing the vital role of each and every Biñanense in attaining socio-economic growth.
6th SGLG Award
For the sixth time, the City of Biñan bagged the most prestigious award ever given by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG): the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Award.
Mayor Dimaguila and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte joined city officials in receiving this award at the SGLG Awarding Ceremony held last December 10 at the Manila Hotel.
Biñan City's Local Government Operation Officer (CLGOO) Lenie Bautista, who was assigned to the city earlier this year, saw two important traits that enabled the Biñan City LGU to once again gain the much-coveted award from the DILG.
These include the “determination” of the local executive to go above and beyond in providing a strong leadership, as well as the “cooperation” of the various local departments to achieve the shared goals of the LGU.
“Nakita ko na kahit wala pa itong SGLG Award ay nako-comply na ng ating mga lokal na opisyal kung ano man ang dapat gawin, yung mandato sa kanila,” Bautista, who had also worked for at least two local governments in Laguna province that had also received multiple SGLG Awards, told OpinYon Laguna.
“Very thankful po kami sa pamumuno ni Mayor Dimaguila na nakikita naman nating supportive talaga sa mga programs na makakadagdag at kasama sa mga indicator ng SGLG,” she added.
Bautista added that, more than just the prestige of the award, LGUs like Biñan City which receive the SGLG Awards are also given financial incentives by the DILG – money that the LGU can then put into good use to further enhance its programs and services.
Best CADAC
Adding to this long list of honors is the "Perfect Functionality Rating" its City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) received during the recent 2024 ADAC Performance Awards of the DILG.
Biñan City is one of just three LGUs in Laguna province (aside from San Pedro City and the municipality of Magdalena) that have received this distinction.
For city officials who were interviewed by OpinYon Laguna, it was the city’s landmark program for Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) – the Balay Silangan reformation facility in Barangay Dela Paz – that was the key for the city’s recognition by the DILG.
“Simula nang buksan po natin ang Balay Silangan noong 2022, mayroon na po tayong six batches na nag-graduate na po dito sa ating facility. And we’re happy to report na based po sa ating tuluy-tuloy na monitoring, lahat po ng ating mga graduate from Balay Silangan ay nasa mabuti pong kalagayan na at productive members na po ng ating lipunan,” Biñan City CADAC Focal Person and City Community Affairs Officer Ron Roscain reported.
At the Balay Silangan, residents receive a “holistic” approach to reformation, covering every aspect of their lives: from financial assistance, livelihood training, to spiritual and moral renewal to enable them to leave their pasts as drug users behind and lead a new life after they graduate.
“Lahat po ng ahensya ng local and national government under the CADAC ay nagtutulong-tulong upang masiguro na ang mga PWUD sa Balay Silangan ay makakapagsimula talaga ng panibagong buhay. Siyempre, kasama rin po doon ang mga pamilya ng mga dating PWUD, na ini-involve rin po natin para matiyak na naaakay sila sa tamang landas,” he explained.
Strict regulations and assessments, including regular drug testing, ensures that residents of Balay Silangan will not fall back to their former drug habits.
“In fact, hindi po natin sila pinapa-graduate mula sa Balay Silangan kapag napatunayan po natin na patuloy pa rin silang gumagamit ng bawal na gamot,” Roscain pointed out.
Partnerships
Buoyed by the success of the Balay Silangan facility, the city government of Biñan is now entering into partnerships with other LGUs in Laguna province for the rehabilitation of PWUDs under their own custody at the Biñan facility.
Meanwhile, Roscain added that they are working with businesses and commercial establishments, as well as the Biñan City Public Employment and Service Office (PESO), to ensure that Balay Silangan graduates can find local employment upon their release from the facility.
In fact, Mayor Dimaguila has issued an executive order mandating all contractors in the city to reserve 10 percent of their workforce for Balay Silangan graduates.
“Mahirap po talagang maalis ang stigma ng pagiging dating adik sa droga, lalo na po sa mapanghusgang lipunan natin. Pero gaya po ng lagi nating sinasabi sa mga reformees sa Balay Silangan, narito po ang ating lokal na pamahalaan, katuwang ang national government, na alalayan sila sa bawat hakbang ng kanilang pagbabagong-buhay,” Roscain added.
Setting a high standard
For Mayor Dimaguila, on the other hand, these awards received by the City of Biñan is a true indication that, for years, the city government is taking the right path to progress and efficient service.
“Tandaan po natin na ang summary po ng SGLG Awards ay ‘matino at mahusay na paglilingkod,’” the city executive said in an interview with OpinYon Laguna. “At ang maganda po rito ay nagtatakda na po tayo ng isang standard para sa local governance: mas mataas na standard na dapat ipagpatuloy ng mga susunod na henerasyon.”
Vice Mayor Gel Alonte, on the other hand, sees these awards as the “fruits” of the united efforts of all Biñanenses, from the city government down to the ordinary citizens, for the mutual benefit of its residents.
"Kung hindi po sa cooperation ng ating mga kababayan dito sa Lungsod ng Biñan ay hindi po natin makakamit ang mga pagkilala na ito. Ang mga programang ginagawa po natin ay isa rin pong 'token of appreciation' sa ating mga kababayan," the vice mayor stressed.
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