Davide Elated For Being Named Among Country’s Top Governors

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III has expressed elation for being named one of the country’s top governors in good governance, transparency, business competitiveness and disaster preparedness by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Davide said he was happy that President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the National Government have recognized his administration’s efforts to address several issues in the province.

He said he thought the President was only naming and shaming officials with links to the illegal drugs trade.

DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno, in the agency’s website, said the governors that were listed as “good performing local executives” were selected based on their achievements.

“Containing the illegal drugs problem is only one thing. These governors are also model governors. They are governors in governance and transparency. They are awardees. They are good in disaster preparedness, and they have made their provinces competitive when it comes to business. They are model leaders, model local executives,” Sueno said.

He said the recognition of “top” governors was only initial, as the National Government will also recognize outstanding city and municipal mayors in the coming weeks.

He said the idea of coming up with a list of top governors was intended to challenge and inspire the local chief executives to continue to improve leadership in the local government units (LGUs) despite the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs that are affecting some local leaders.

DILG Cebu Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales believed that it could be Cebu Capitol’s Sugbo Kontra Droga, which impressed Sueno as the latter had vowed to use this as a template for a nationwide program. (PNA) SCS/EB/PR/EDS