City Council calls for review of SGLG 2024 results

To uphold the city’s reputation for good governance, the 20th City Council led by Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez approved a resolution appealing to the Council of Good Local Governance (CGLG) through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Central Office to reconsider the results of the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

VM Bebot, reflecting on the evaluation process, expressed confidence in Cagayan de Oro’s performance.

“In fairness to the city, we had a good rating and performance, so I do not see why (we were not selected),” she stated.

Councilor Edgar Cabanlas added, “One of the qualifications of winning this SGLG is on the issue of peace and order. That’s the only qualification that, according to the DILG Central Office, we did not reach the passing grade of 75.”

He further pointed out that reports from the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) showed a commendable record in crime prevention and resolution.

“In this resolution, we are asking what the formula should be used,” he opined

Highlighting peace and order as the only dimension in which the city did not meet the required standard, VM Bebot clarified the importance of the resolution.

 “This is precisely why we have this resolution—to be specific and to be given a reply in a formal manner and explanation as to what happened.”

Councilor Romeo Calizo, who supported the resolution, also emphasized the need for transparency in the results. He called for copies of the evaluation data, so council members could understand the parameters that led to the city's evaluation outcome.

The SGLG, codified under Republic Act No. 11292, acknowledges local government units (LGUs) that exhibit exemplary performance across critical areas of governance. These areas include public fund management, disaster preparedness, social inclusivity, healthcare implementation, economic promotion, citizen protection, and environmental sustainability.

Acknowledging this, VM Bebot has proposed the establishment of a Seal of Good Local Governance Advisory Board to strengthen the city’s performance and guide continuous improvements.

As the resolution moves forward, the council remains hopeful for a fair review that will reflect the city’s dedication to high standards in public service.