Cadiz, dubbed as the “City of Whales” and “Home of Dinagsa Festival”, is among the 12 cities, or a total of 18 local government units in Negros Occidental named national awardees for this year’s coveted SGLG Awards, a press release from Cadiz PIO said.
This is the second year that Cadiz hurdled SGLG plum, the highest award so far, given to local government units in the country that undoubtedly excelled in 10 governance areas such as: Financial Administration and Sustainability; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection and Sensitivity; Health Compliance and Responsiveness; Sustainable Education;
Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness; Safety, Peace and Order; Environmental Management; Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture the Arts; and Youth Development.
Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said he makes sure that the way he runs the city government right now is not just about the conventional delivery of public services to the people.
“Rather, I always see to it that each of the services we deliver, or implement within the orb of social governance must have focus on efficiency,” he said.
“Less inputs, greater outputs. That’s our ‘adopted lifestyle’ now in the city government. We do adhere in using minimal inputs, but we get the maximum results,” Escalante added.
Cadiz’s “Serbisyo Caravan”, the “Mother of all Services” penetrates the 22 villages every year bannered the city’s efficient government and public services.
“It saturates our constituents from all walks of life. Nobody is left behind. Everyone is entitled to avail of our many services, especially those in the vulnerable sectors,” the mayor said.
Institutionalizing a business-friendly atmosphere is also one of Cadiz’s formidable assets right now.
Also, it’s our “wow factor” that entices investors to come and invest in Cadiz, Escalante said.
Thus, the city’s 11-minute policy in business application and renewal earned respect from the business community.
It propelled Cadiz to greater heights for having now a “roaring economy” in northern Negros Occidental.
While Cadiz’s environmental and tourism advocacies headlined by its giant clams conservation on Lakawon Island in Barangay Cadiz Viejo made the city “beyond committed” to protecting and saving its own environment.
Escalante, however, said a mantra on efficiency can only be attained through participative governance.
People’s support, hence, matters in effecting, effective and efficient public services leading to a sound governance, he capped.*
