Balete town gets 'Seal of Good Housekeeping' award
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The municipality of Balete is a recipient of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) incentive program, acknowledging the town's efforts in the promotion of transparency and accountability in governance.
Balete, a fourth class municipality in the province of Aklan, joined the elite 15 high-performing and innovative municipalities in the first-ever DILG incentive program under the administration of President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III and Secretary Jesse Robredo.
Other fourth to sixth class towns awarded by DILG are Pitogo in Quezon Province, Santol of La Union, Sto. Domingo of Albay, Catigbian and Balilihan in Bohol, Anilao in Iloilo, Naawan of Misamis Oriental, Clarin in Misamis Occidental, Damulog in Bukidnon, Mobo of Masbate, Datu Paglas in Maguindanao, Leon B. Postigo of Zamboanga del Norte, San Agustin of Surigao del Sur, and Tampilisan town of Zamboanga del Norte.
The towns mentioned earned the distinction for their strong performance in fiscal management, budgeting, resource mobilization, value performance monitoring, transparency, planning and accountability.
The seal of good housekeeping and cash incentives of P2-million for the 15 local government units across the country were taken from DILG's Performance Challenge Fund (PCF).
On February 20, 2009, the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) approved the Performance Based Incentive Policy which provides for an incentive framework to rationalize national government intergovernmental transfers to LGU towards improving LGU performance in governance and delivery of basic services.
All municipalities awarded with the Seal of Good Housekeeping should allocate counterpart funds to implement high-impact capital investment projects such as providing public infrastructure, improving social services, enhancing economic services and adapting to climate change and preparing for disaster.
The criteria in key governance areas include indicators for updated and approved comprehensive development plan and annual investment plan, presence of executive-legislative agenda, approved LGU annual budget, growth in local revenues over 3 years, presence of updated revenue code (every 5 years), functionality of local special bodies, compliance to the Anti-Red Tape Law and full disclosure of local budget and finances and bids and public offerings, among others.
PCF seeks to rationalize national government intergovernmental transfers to LGUs, and encourage alignment of local development initiatives with national government development agenda and priorities.