23/10/2026
𝔽𝔼𝔸𝕋𝕌ℝ𝔼 | Behind every flourishing municipality lies a delicate balance of order, safety, economic vitality, and compassion. But for local government units (LGUs) striving to achieve the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), carrying the full weight of public service is not a solo endeavor.
Recognizing that no single office can champion good governance alone, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently convened the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee (MSAC). More than a routine meeting, the gathering served as a convergence platform—bringing together national government agencies (NGAs), civil society organizations (CSOs), local leaders, and development partners with a unified mission: to empower local governments from the ground up.
A shared responsibility
The coveted SGLG is widely regarded as the ultimate benchmark of local administrative excellence. Yet, as the roadmap toward the 2027 assessment takes shape, officials are making one truth clear: excellence requires teamwork.
Opening the forum with a call to action, OIC-DILG Ilocos Norte Provincial Director Lawyer Rodel G. Hilario underscored that supporting LGUs transcends individual agency mandates.
“[L]ooking ahead to 2027, the criteria for this award are demanding. DILG cannot support or ensure the compliance of our LGUs without the necessary assistance of your respective national agencies,” Hilario said.
His message served as a timely reminder that behind every governance standard—whether in disaster preparedness, environmental management, or financial transparency—is a network of dedicated partners working side by side
Bridging gaps, building communities
At the heart of this multi-agency synergy is the Local Governance Resource Center (LGRC), which serves as a bridge connecting national policy with community-level ex*****on.
LGOO VI and Program Manager Jeslen B. Tesoro highlighted how the LGRC fosters active collaboration among government bodies, academia, and civil society.
“We bridge our partners to our local government units,” Tesoro explained. “We become a convergence mechanism for communicating concerns and initiatives so that our LGUs can better deliver services to their constituents.”
This collaborative spirit has already yielded tangible results across the province:
Streamlined business processes: Past MSAC engagements successfully brought together business permit officers, building officials, and investment promotion teams to establish a unified business permitting framework—cutting red tape and boosting local trade.
Drug-cleared communities: Stakeholders celebrated a major milestone—achieving a 100% drug-cleared status across all barangays in the province—while committing to sustain community-based rehabilitation and prevention programs.
Safer, prepared leadership: Upcoming initiatives include Incident Command System (ICS) training for local chief executives, updating Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs), and enhancing Local Councils for the Protection of Children (LCPCs).
To achieve these goals, a coalition of partners—including the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)—are pooling resources and expertise.
Maximizing the power of partnership
Driven by a shared sense of purpose, DILG leaders urged stakeholders to transform the MSAC from a simple gathering into a proactive problem-solving hub.
“We should optimize and maximize the purpose and objective of federating you so that issues can be discussed and solutions can be developed together,” Tesoro emphasized.
At its core, the pursuit of the SGLG is not merely about earning a plaque or title. It is about building stronger, more resilient, and responsive local governments.
By bridging agency divides and uniting their efforts, the DILG and its partners ensure that good governance directly translates into better lives for the community.
