75 ARMM LGUs pass DILG financial housekeeping standards

COTABATO CITY: As Bangsamoro areas transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a total of 75 provinces and towns in the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have passed the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) standards for Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping in 2018.

This is a huge leap from zero passer in 2015, when local government units (LGUs) in the region were still adjusting to the good governance drive of the ARMM’s current administration. Passers of the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping in the region comprise three provinces, one city, and 71 municipalities.

Two of these LGUs are even non-IRA (internal revenue allotment) municipalities from the province of Maguindanao, specifically Pandag and Northern Kabuntalan. Non-IRA towns, which receive meager assistance instead from the regional government, are LGUs created prior to 1991 that failed to meet the requirements in the creation of municipalities under the Local Government Code, or R.A. 7160.

“I am so happy na may dalawang nakapasok na non-IRA, it shows that they are adhering to the principles of good governance,” DILG-ARMM Secretary Kirby Matalam Abdullah said adding that it is a sign that the LGUs in the ARMM are on the right path.

Sec. Abdullah explained that to pass good financial housekeeping standards, the LGUs must receive qualified and unqualified opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA). Such standards are among the components of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), which is conferred to LGUs which pass the reporting guidelines of the COA, and declare their financial reports under the full disclosure policy.

It is also one of the factors being considered for an LGU to pass the first core area of SGLG, which is Financial Administration. The other three areas are disaster preparedness, social protection, and peace and order. Aside from the four core areas, LGUs need to pass at least one of the essential areas namely, business friendliness and competitiveness; environmental management; and tourism, culture, and the arts.

“Continuing naman ang effort ng DILG but we added extra effort to attain the figures. Tinutukan natin nang mabuti and we made sure that they will follow policies within the time frame,” said Sec. Abdullah. With the establishment of the new Bangsamoro entity, the DILG is hoping the region’s LGUs will continue the good performance in the administration of areas under their jurisdiction. (Bureau of Public Information)