Region IX is ending the first quarter of CY 2013 with a bang following the announcement of the National Winners of the 2012 Local Legislative Award wherein two (2) local government units (LGUs) in the region were proclaimed national winners.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in partnership with the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) named the Highly Urbanized City (HUC) of Zamboanga and the Municipality of Pinan of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte as Most Outstanding Sanggunians for 2012 for the HUC and 4th-6th Class Categories, respectively.

The proclamation came after the series of assessment and evaluation conducted by the Committees at the Provincial, Regional and National levels, which membership is composed of various national government agencies (NGAs) such as the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Department of Budget and Management (DBM); Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); and a representative from the Civil Society Organization (CSO), and chaired by the DILG.

The Local Legislative Award accords official recognition to a Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) or to a Sagguniang Bayan (SB) which exhibited exemplary performance in legislating measures that help build the foundation  of meaningful local administration and development that ultimately contribute  to the attainment of desirable socio-economic and environmental outcomes.

Divided into four (4) categories – 1st-3rd Class Municipalities; 4th-6th Class Municipalities; Component City; and Highly Urbanized City category, Outstanding SPs and SBs for 2012 were adjudged based on the Effectiveness of the Legislative Agenda (ELA), Effectiveness of the Legislative Tracking System, Availability of Legislative Documents, Efficiency of Performance of the Sanggunian and Quality of Office Set-Up and Staff Complement, as the major criteria.

For his part, as Chair of the Regional Awards Committee, DILG IX Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil said that the recognition afforded to Zamboanga City and the Municipality of Pinan as Outstanding Sanggunians is such an accomplishment for the entire Region IX.

“We are proud of the fact that Region IX LGUs bagged two (2) out of the four (4) awards in the national level which only shows that the local legislation aspect of governance in the region is given prime importance, without having to set aside other equally important concerns in local governance, all for the good of the constituencies,” Director Abutazil said.

“It is our hope that with this very positive development, the LGUs of Zamboanga City and the Municipality of Pinan will be able to inspire other local legislatures in the Zamboanga Peninsula to perform better and excel not only in the legislative process but likewise  in every aspect of local governance. This does not only apply to the Local Legislative Award but with other Awards and Incentives programs being initiated and implemented by DILG,” Director Abutazil further said.

The national winners were awarded with plaques and cash incentives during the national awarding ceremony conducted last March 7, 2013 at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Grounds, Pasay City.