Eastern Visayas LGUs get financial housekeeping seal

CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines  – More than half of the local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas have earned the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) for 2014.

The cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay, Maasin, Borongan and Catbalogan, along with 77 towns in Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar passed the GFH, said Interior and Local Government Region 8 director Pedro Noval Jr.

Formerly known as the Seal of Good Housekeeping that was initiated in 2010, a local government must pass the minimum criteria on transparency and accountability, including the full disclosure policy of the Commission on Audit.

The LGU should also pass assessments on disaster preparedness, social protection, business friendliness and competitiveness, environmental protection and law and order and public safety.

The GFH certification is a requirement before LGUs can access loans and avail themselves of programs of the DILG.