Koronadal tops 2023 Local Legislative Award Regional Assessment

October 26, 2023

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Koronadal took the top spot in the recent 2023 Local Legislative Award (LLA) Regional Assessment spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region XII (DILG XII).

In a memorandum issued by DILG Regional Director XII Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, among the nominees under the Component Cities Category, the City of Koronadal ranks first with a 15.97 performance rating, followed by Tacurong City with a rating of 13.94, and Kidapawan City comes in third with 11.44 ratings.

The 2023 LLA aims to honor the exemplary performance of Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Bayan for enacting legislation and approving resolutions that have an impact on the local administration and the city’s or municipality’s development, covering the period of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

On September 25, 2023, the Regional Awards Committee (RAC), headed by DILG-XII together with the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines XII, Department of Social Welfare and Development XII, Department of Agriculture XII, and DBM-XII,  successfully conducted the onsite evaluation held at the SP Session Hall.

Earlier, the Sanggunian of Koronadal made history after it obtained a 93.5% rating during the provincial assessment. The sanggunian with at least 80 percent performance rating can then advance to the regional level.

Based on the six (6) major criteria set forth in the award guidelines, the legislative department was evaluated through the following:

  1.  Responsiveness of the legislative agenda
  2.  Availability of legislative documents
  3.  Effectiveness of performance of the sanggunian
  4.  Efficiency of performance of the sanggunian
  5.  Legislative citations and awards, and
  6. Capacity development for legislators and staff

Meanwhile, in her message, City Vice Mayor Erlinda P. Araquil pointed out that she has learned a lot during the conduct of the evaluations. According to her, everyone has to be open to new learnings to attain their goal. 

“Walang imposible basta ready lang, handang matuto….. Nagpapasalamat po ako dito sa pagkakataon na ito dahil marami po kaming matututunan”, Araquil said. 

(Nothing is impossible as long as we are ready, ready to learn….. I am thankful for this opportunity because we can learn a lot)

She added that she is quite excited for the 2025 evaluation, as the new set of Sanggunian under her leadership will undergo the same assessment.

“I’m excited for 2025 kasi nino-note ko yong mga kulang as well as the improvement.  As far as my team is concerned, yong composition ng sanggunian, hindi naman sa nagmamalaki, but talagang productive ang present sanggunian and of course the previous administration also”, the lady official highlighted. 

(I’m excited for 2025 because I’m taking notes of our inadequacies as well as the improvement. As far as my team is concerned, I am proud that the composition of the present sanggunian is really productive as well as the previous administration.)

Meanwhile, Mr. Ian John Clemente assured the SP-Koronadal that the LGU would have their full support if it reached the national assessment.

“Siempre tumandok kita sang Koronadal, as much as possible gusto naton Koronadal ang magdaug (Since we are from Koronadal, as much as possible, we want Koronadal to win). If we will be endorsing you to the national, we will be assisting the lgu of Koronadal especially the SP”, Clemente promised. 

City Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena has high hopes that the city will continue to reap awards under the administration of the present officials.

“Yong mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Panlungsod sang nagligad kag karon puro gid nagatrabaho sang husto.  Sana tuloy-tuloy ang pagsungkit natin ng mga awards, national awards.  Sa mga kasamahan ko sa Sangguniang Panlungsod ako’y natutuwa sa inyong pagkakaisa dito at sana patuloy yan. (The previous and present members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod were really working hard. I hope that we continue to receive awards, especially national awards. To my colleagues in the Sanggunian, I am happy with your unity here and I hope it continues.)  You can be rest assured that more exciting things will happen during our watch as leaders of this small city with a big dream!”, Ogena said.