TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the region has announced a notable increase in the number of Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) awardees for 2023, showing a seven percent rise compared to the previous year.
According to the statement released by the DILG-8 Eastern Visayas garnered a total of 119 GFH passers for 2023, as recognized by the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS).
This accomplishment highlights the commitment of local government units (LGUs) in the region to transparently manage public funds, the DILG said.
The GFH serves as a crucial assessment tool for the DILG to evaluate the performance of LGUs in handling public finances with utmost transparency.
The increase from 111 GFH passers in 2022 to 119 in 2023 underscores the continuous improvement in financial management practices among LGUs in Eastern Visayas, the DILG said.
Among the GFH 2023 passers are six provinces, seven cities, and 106 municipalities that have met the criteria, including possessing an unqualified or qualified COA (Commission on Audit) audit opinion for CY 2021 or 2022 and complying with the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP) requirements by posting financial documents timely and prominently.
The recognized provinces include Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran, along with the cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay, Maasin, Catbalogan, Calbayog, and Borongan.
At the municipal level, various towns across the region have also been acknowledged for their exemplary financial management, including Almeria, Cabucgayan, Kawayan, Maripipi, and Naval in Biliran province; Arteche, Balangiga, Can-avid, Dolores, General MacArthur, Giporlos, Guiuan, Jipapad, Lawaan, Llorente, Maslog, Maydolong, Mercedes, Oras, Quinapondan, Salcedo, San Julian, San Policarpo, Sulat, and Taft, all in Eastern Samar.
In Leyte, the passers were Abuyog, Alangalang, Albuera, Barugo, Burauen, Calubian, Carigara, Dulag, Hilongos, Isabel, Javier, Julita, Kananga, La Paz, Leyte, Mayorga, Merida, Palo, Pastrana, Tabontabon, Tanauan, San Miguel, and Villaba.
Meantime, passers from Northern Samar are Allen, Biri, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Lapinig, Lavezares, Mapanas, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Roque, San Victoria, and Lope de Vega.
In Samar, the towns of Almagro, Basey, Calbiga, Daram, Gandara, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Marabut, Matuguinao, Motiong, Pinabacdao, Santa Margarita, San Sebastian, Santa Rita, Santo Niño, Tarangnan, Villareal, Paranas, Zumarraga, Tagapul-an, and Pagsanghan.
The towns of Anahawan, Bontoc, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Limasawa, Macrohon, Malitbog, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, Saint Bernard, San Francisco, San Juan, Silago, Sogod, and Tomas Oppus in Southern Leyte received the recognition from the DILG.
Reacting to the recognition, Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda expressed his elation, saying it inspires them to uphold high standards of governance and ensure quality service delivery to residents.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
