More than simply the prestige of earning the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), this annual award from the Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG) carries with it financial benefits for local government units (LGUs).
With the SGLG Award comes an “incentive fund” that LGUs can use as additional resources for their projects and programs that, in turn, can further improve the quality of life of their constituents.
In Arteche, Eastern Samar, for instance, the 2023 SGLG Award it received from the DILG meant a new water refilling station, which the LGU said is part of ensuring a stable supply of safe and potable water, especially after natural calamities and disasters.
“This is the reason why the local government is setting up its water refilling station so we always have available clean and safe water on top of food packs during and after calamities,” Mayor Roland Boie Evardone told media.
Arteche, located in the northeastern part of Eastern Samar near its boundary with Northern Samar province, is one of the municipalities in Eastern Visayas with flood-prone villages, especially those located along riverbanks.
Due to this situation, sources of the community’s potable and safe drinking water are affected and may be contaminated, which the local government aims to address to ensure that this will not lead to the spread of water-borne illnesses and diseases.
“If there are no disasters, it will function as a local enterprise and will provide additional income to the municipality,” he added.
The town has five existing privately owned water refilling stations. However, they cannot meet the demand of the drinking water needs of the town’s 4,320 households, prompting residents to get their needed water supply from the neighboring town of San Policarpo.
(With report from PNA)
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