DILG: LGU Scorecard to gauge LGU performance in governance
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is introducing an innovation that seeks to gauge the performance of local government units (LGUs) in the attainment of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs).
DILG Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento said the LGU Scorecard otherwise known as Local TARGET (Transcending Accountable and Responsive Governance through Empowerment and Teamwork) aims to document baseline data for governance and development aligned with the UN SDGs for 2016-2030.
Sarmiento said the Scorecard focuses on eight key areas where LGUs can contribute directly to the SDG. These are: 1) accountable and transparent LGUs; 2) clean water, energy and sanitation for all; 3) inclusive and equitable education; 4) good health and well-being; 5) disaster resilient community; 6) business and investment promotion; 7) peaceful, orderly and just community; and, 8) clean and livable environment.
“With the LGU Scorecard, we will be able to know if LGUs are on the right track in addressing the SDGs,” said the DILG Secretary.
In a directive, Sarmiento urged all LGUs to complete the Scorecard, which covers all 81 provinces, 145 cities and 1,489 municipalities.
“The Scorecard feeds into the DILG's performance management framework for assessing and recognizing LGUs,” he said.
Moreover, he said the Scorecard will help the Local Government Academy design a responsive and targeted program for Newly-Elected Officials, particularly in developing their executive agenda and concretizing their priorities for the first 100 days.
On the other hand, the DILG Chief said that the accomplished LGU Scorecard will also be useful to LGUs. “It will help in meeting future performance-oriented standards of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) and the grant of Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) upon conferment of the Seal,” he said.
PCF incentivizes good governance performance. It is provided to LGUs with SGLG in the form of financial grant for local development projects. “The LGU Scorecard can also help respond to local anti-poverty interventions through the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) approach; and link strategic planning, investment programming, and budgeting through evidence-based information,” he added.
BuB is a program of the Aquino administration that strengthens participation in national budget formulation and project implementation. Under BuB, local communities with their LGUs are given the power to decide on what priority projects should be implemented in their areas.
The Secretary said that DILG Local Government Operating Officers (LGOOs) will coordinate with Local Chief Executives and Heads of Departments, among others, to ensure complete and timely completion of the LGU Scorecard. The LGOOs will discuss with LGUs the overall process and schedules, including forms and coordination mechanisms for the LGU Scorecard.