MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has cited 300 local government units (LGU) for exhibiting good governance.

A total of 306 LGUs were conferred the Seal of Good Local Governance this year, while 4 barangays (villages) earned the Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa award, with 8 runners-up.

The awardees were announced at the culminating ceremony of the 25th anniversary of the Local Government Code on Thursday, October 27. (FAST FACTS: The Local Government Code turns 25)

In a speech, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno urged the awardees to prepare for a shift to federalism, which is pending in Congress, in line with one of the campaign promises of President Rodrigo Duterte. (READ: Duterte to quit in 3 years if federalism begins)

“Let us continue this journey of good local governance, of decentralization, and local autonomy and look forward to new challenges under a federal system of government,” said Sueno.

He also encouraged the LGUs to continue engaging their constituents and to improve the delivery of public service.

“We urge you to do more. Do not stop with the Seal or the Lupong Tagapamayapa Award. There is much more to these awards than the prestige and the cash rewards attached to them,” Sueno said.

“Take extra efforts to raise the standards of your services,” he added.

In all, 43 provinces, 51 cities, and 212 municipalities received the Seal of Good Local Governance. These LGUs will get a Performance Challenge Fund as incentive, and will be able to access other DILG projects.

Sueno said that the 306 local governments complied with all the requirements in 3 core areas – financial administration, disaster preparedness, and social protection – and any one of the following essential criteria: business-friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order, and environmental management.

See a map of the Seal of Good Local Governance awardees below. Blue markers signify the provinces, orange markers are for cities, and gray markers for municipalities. Click each marker for more information.

Meanwhile, the recipients of the Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa awards are:

• Highly-urbanized cities category
• Winner: Barangay City Heights, General Santos City
• 1st runner-up: Barangay Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City
• 2nd runner-up: Barangay San Bartolome, Quezon City
• Component cities category
• Winner: Barangay 1 San Lorenzo, Laoag City
• 1st runner-up: Barangay Cataning, Balanga City, Bataan
• 2nd runner-up: Barangay Dagupan Centro, City of Tabuk, Kalinga
• 1st to 3rd class municipalities category
• Winner: Barangay Poblacion, Polomolok, South Cotabato
• 1st runner-up: Barangay Tuding, Itogon, Benguet
• 2nd runner-up: Barangay Kitang II/Luz, Limay, Bataan
• 4th to 6th class municipalities category
• Winner: Barangay Hingatungan, Silago, Southern Leyte
• 1st runner-up: Barangay Gugo, Samal, Bataan
• 2nd runner-up: Barangay Ambassador, Tublay, Benguet

The winners will each receive P300,000 and a trophy, the 1st runners-up P100,000 and a plaque of recognition, and the 2nd runners-up P75,000 and a plaque of recognition. – Rappler.com