By
Franklin P. Gumapon
IPIL,
Zamboanga Sibugay – For religiously implementing the “full
disclosure policy” in their respective local government units (LGUs), 12 towns
and the provincial government of Zamboanga Sibugay have passed the 2014 Good
Financial Housekeeping (GFH), a component of the Seal of Good Local Governance
(SGLG).
From
the list recently released by the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), the GFH has been conferred to the municipalities of Alicia, Buug,
Diplahan, Imelda, Ipil, Kabasalan, Mabuhay, Payao, Siay, Talusan, Titay and
Tungawan.
Aside
from complying with the full disclosure policy, these LGUs have not received
“unqualified and qualified” opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA).
On the
other hand, the four other towns of Malangas, Naga, Olutanga and Roseller T.
Lim did not make it due to “conditional compliance” with the full disclosure
policy.
Acting
Provincial Director Arnel F. Gudio of DILG-Sibugay also disclosed that the GFH
certification would be the basis for accessing funds to the agency’s program
windows such as Bottom Up Budgeting Program (BUB), Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig (SaLinTubig)
and Payapa at Masaganang Pamyanan (PAMANA). He, however, clarified that said
certification could neither be used to facilitate the approval of any loan nor
eligibility for the Seal of Good Local Governance and Performance Challenge
Fund.
Director Gudio has also encouraged the LGUs to comply with the department’s directives especially the full disclosure policy, which requires local officials to fully disclose the particular financial transactions of their respective LGUs in three conspicuous places and in the portal of the city/municipal halls including provincial capitols.
“If the failure is due to FDP, LGUs have the opportunity to comply with the FDP and avail of the ‘ After Assessment Compliance” pursuant to DILG memorandum No. 2014-13 dated February 6,2014 to secure a GFH Certification without waiting for the next assessment period,” Gudio explained.
Based on the 2014 GFH assessment, a total of 1,307 LGUs or 78 percent passed the GFH out of the 1,676 provincial, city, and municipal governments. Some 369 local governments failed to meet the GFH criteria - 77 fell short due to the 2013 COA opinion, 254 flunked due to non-compliance with the full disclosure policy and 38 failed in both criteria. (with reports from Lemuel Mejares)
Director Gudio has also encouraged the LGUs to comply with the department’s directives especially the full disclosure policy, which requires local officials to fully disclose the particular financial transactions of their respective LGUs in three conspicuous places and in the portal of the city/municipal halls including provincial capitols.
“If the failure is due to FDP, LGUs have the opportunity to comply with the FDP and avail of the ‘ After Assessment Compliance” pursuant to DILG memorandum No. 2014-13 dated February 6,2014 to secure a GFH Certification without waiting for the next assessment period,” Gudio explained.
Based on the 2014 GFH assessment, a total of 1,307 LGUs or 78 percent passed the GFH out of the 1,676 provincial, city, and municipal governments. Some 369 local governments failed to meet the GFH criteria - 77 fell short due to the 2013 COA opinion, 254 flunked due to non-compliance with the full disclosure policy and 38 failed in both criteria. (with reports from Lemuel Mejares)