Cadiz City’s commitment to efficient governance has once again earned it the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award this year.
Known as the “City of Whales” and the “Home of the Dinagsa Festival,” Cadiz is one of 12 cities and a total of 18 local government units in Negros Occidental to receive this coveted national recognition.
This marks the second consecutive year that Cadiz has achieved the SGLG award, the highest accolade granted to local government units excelling in 10 key areas of governance:
- 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, and the Arts
- Youth Development
Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. attributed this achievement to a focus on participative and efficient governance, emphasizing the city’s ability to deliver maximum results with minimal resources.
“The way we run the city government is not just about the conventional delivery of public services,” Escalante said. “Rather, we ensure that each service we provide focuses on efficiency.”
Escalante described the city’s “adopted lifestyle” as “less inputs, greater outputs,” a guiding principle for their streamlined operations.
Cadiz’s “Serbisyo Caravan,” referred to as the “Mother of All Services,” is a testament to this efficiency. This initiative annually reaches all 22 villages in the city, providing comprehensive public services to residents, especially vulnerable sectors.
“It saturates our constituents from all walks of life. Nobody is left behind,” the mayor said.
The city’s business-friendly policies, including its “11-minute policy” for business application and renewal, have further enhanced its appeal to investors. This efficiency has helped propel Cadiz’s economy to new heights, positioning it as a thriving hub in northern Negros Occidental.
Cadiz’s environmental and tourism initiatives, highlighted by its giant clam conservation efforts on Lakawon Island in Barangay Cadiz Viejo, underscore its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.
Escalante emphasized that achieving efficiency is only possible through participative governance. “Empowering our department heads, village chiefs, and even ordinary Cadizeños to be part of our local government has proven to be highly effective,” he said.
The mayor credited his leadership style of approachability and active listening as key to fostering public trust and support, which he described as essential for efficient and effective governance.
“There’s no substitute for being an approachable and listening chief executive,” Escalante said. “People’s support matters in delivering sound governance.”
