EddieGul unhappy over Talisay’s failure to get DILG award

by Victor Anthony V. Silva
Correspondent

Former first district congressman Eduardo Gullas expressed dismay over the failure of Talisay City to get the Good Financial Housekeeping award.
Gullas said that he and current 1st district Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas would have been happy if all six local government units under the district received the award from the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“If I were the city mayor and I’m the only one left out, I’d feel bad. But I’d be challenged to do better so I’ll be included the next time,” he said.
Last week, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Sibonga, Carcar City and Naga City were given the award, a component of the much-coveted Seal of Good Local Governance.
Cebu Daily News tried to contact Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes but he could not be reached.
Among the cities within the first legislative district, Talisay ranks first in terms of population and income.
Based on the 2010 census, the city has a population of 200,772. Naga and Carcar cities only have 101,571 and 107,323, respectively.
Before becoming a city in 2001, the municipality of Talisay only had an Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of P55.8 million.
In the second half of 2013, during the onset of the present administration, Talisay City had P163.75 million.
It had P366.94 million in 2014 and has P419.28 million for 2015.
Gullas said that he cannot exactly identify the cause of the city’s exclusion from the awardees but said that it may be attributed to leadership.
He said that this may be because Mayor delos Reyes is still a newcomer in governance.
According to the DILG, the good housekeeping award is given to a local government unit for its adherence to the Full Disclosure Policy and the good practices of accountability and transparency.
The award is only one out of three core components of the much-coveted Seal of Good Local Governance.
In order for a LGU to receive the seal, it must first pass all three core assessments—the GFH, disaster preparedness and social protection.
The LGU should also pass one of these essential assessments—business-friendliness and competitiveness, environmental protection, law and order, and public safety.
Last Feb. 13, the DILG posted on its website the complete list of all GFH awardees.
In the 2013 mayoral race in Talisay City, delos Reyes dealt Gullas his biggest loss in his colorful political career that spanned four decades.