City

bags 2022 SGFH award for 12th year

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has awarded this city the 2022 Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (SGFH) for the 12th time, the City Information Office (CIO) said Tuesday.

The city was cited for its commitment to following accounting and auditing standards, rules, and regulations as evaluated by the Commission of Audit (COA).

City Planning and Development Office coordinator Ivan Cortez said the SGFH validated the city’s responsible and efficient financial management practices.

The award, Cortez said, renews the city’s eligibility for the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance.

“With DILG recognizing Davao City as an SGFH awardee since 2011 means we are steadfast in being a center of excellence in public governance,” he added.

According to Cortez, the city government has always ensured that the processes and systems for fiscal management are sound and are always accountable and transparent.

The SGFH, created under the Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019, is a recognition-based program for all local government units (LGUs) to promote good governance and progress.

The award recognizes LGUs that prioritize accountability and transparency in their financial management practices.

It aims to promote the responsible and efficient use of public funds, minimize corruption and misuse, and increase public awareness of the allocation of funds for local development projects.

An LGU-recipient of the SGFH must adhere to accounting and auditing standards, comply with full disclosure policies, manage its resources wisely, and effectively use available tools for local development. (PNA)

Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, vice chair of the Committee of Trade, Commerce, and Industry of the City Council, emphasized to Davao’s vendors the convenience of using the Paleng-QR code.

The Paleng-QR Ph program, jointly developed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), aims to build the digital payments ecosystem in the country by promoting cashless payments in public markets and local transportation, particularly tricycles.

The councilor experienced the efficiency of using the Paleng-QR when he paid using Gcash at Agdao Public Market on Tuesday.

“So far okay naman convenient pud ang Gcash for payment kay exact amount ang imohang ibayad and dili kana magbitbit ug kwarta pud for safety. So dili na pud maglisod ug kambyo ang mga vendors,” he said via Facebook Messenger.

The Paleng-QR platform was launched at Bankerohan Public Market in November 23, 2022 and has been extended by the city government of Davao at Toril Public Market, and launched on Tuesday the onboarding at Agdao Public Market in collaboration with stakeholders.

Onboarding refers to the process of registering stakeholders and merchants with qualifying banks and electronic money providers.

Alejandre said 90 percent of the vendors at Agdao Public Market are using the said platform.

“In terms of readiness, tan-aw nako 90 percent are using the Paleng-QR code kay most of them kay nakagamit na ug android phone so puwede gyud sila mugamit sa Paleng-QR and naa man mga ongoing