Overview
The Seal of Good Local Governance or SGLG is an award and recognition program for government units in the Philippines. It is designed to motivate local governments to improve their work in administration, financial accountability, disaster readiness, health services, social protection, education, environmental management and other areas of governance. The program was made official by Republic Act No. 11292 Also called the Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019 (Republic of the Philippines 2019).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government or DILG runs the program. Evaluates local government units using set standards for good governance (DILG, 2025).
History
The SGLG grew out of an initiative called the Seal of Good Housekeeping which was also run by the DILG. That program focused on transparency and accountability in government. Over time the scope of the program expanded to include areas of public service and governance (Diokno-Sicat et al., 2022).
On April 12 2019 Republic Act No. 11292 Was signed into law. This law gave the SGLG a legal foundation. It also created the Council of Good Local Governance and the Seal of Good Local Governance Fund (Republic of the Philippines 2019).
Objectives
The main goal of the SGLG is to push government units to be more transparent and responsible when using public funds. It also aims to improve the delivery of services. The program promotes readiness for disasters support for vulnerable and marginalized groups, strong health programs, quality education, public safety, environmental care and the protection of local culture and heritage (Republic of the Philippines 2019).
A study by Medina-Guce and Sanders (2024)looked at changes in the SGLG’s assessment criteria. How these changes affect local government performance. The research discussed how the program has changed over time as governance needs and standards have evolved.
Assessment Criteria
The SGLG measures government units based on specific areas of governance set by law and the program’s rules. These areas include administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, health services, education, business competitiveness, public safety, environmental management and cultural heritage (Republic of the Philippines 2019).
The assessment criteria can change when the DILG updates its guidelines. For the 2025 assessment the DILG listed ten governance areas. These include administration and sustainability disaster preparedness, health compliance and responsiveness sustainable education, environmental management and youth development. Under the rules local government units must meet all ten standards to earn the seal (DILG, 2025).
Implementation
The DILG carries out the SGLG assessment using its guidelines and evaluation indicators. Local government units are judged on how they follow the required standards. They must meet all the requirements to get recognition (DILG, 2025).
The program is also connected to government incentives. Diokno-Sicat et al. (2022)Studied the Performance Challenge Fund, a grant program that supports development projects in local government units. Their research explored how eligibility for the fund was tied to the SGLG’s governance ratings and how the program worked from the perspective of development planners.
Challenges and Research
The rollout of the SGLG has brought attention to issues like the difficulty of meeting assessment standards the capacity of local governments and the impact of changing governance rules. Medina-Guce and Sanders (2024) reviewed how the program’s policy design has changed over time. They found concerns about shifting criteria lower passing rates and a lack of resources for governments to keep up.
The researchers suggested that the government should address resources, time changes in the assessment criteria carefully and improve the evaluation process. These steps could help local governments better handle the challenges of governance (Medina-Guce & Sanders 2024).
Role in Public Administration
The SGLG is an example of performance-based assessment in governance in the Philippines. It offers a way to recognize government units that meet high standards in administrative accountability, public service, disaster preparedness and community welfare (Republic of the Philippines 2019).
Studies, on the SGLG and the Performance Challenge Fund have also looked at how governance assessment connects with government incentives. These studies help explain how performance standards and financial support can work together to improve administration (Diokno-Sicat et al. 2022).