The local government of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental awarded Barangay Codcod the Seal for Good Environmental Governance (SGEG), earning them the Php250,000 prize. This is the second time that Barangay Codcod has won the city government’s SGEG search. The local government of San Carlos initiated the SGEG search modelled after the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) and Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays (SGLGB). In accordance with the SGLG and SGLGB programs, LGUs and barangays must pass the following governance areas: 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 youth development.

 Danilo Lastimoso, chairman of Barangay Codcod, thanks his staff, particularly his barangay secretary, for their efforts BARANGAY CONNECTION Barangay Codcod: A Model for Environmental Excellence in Negros Occidental to compile the required documents to qualify for the award. San Carlos City Mayor Renato Y. Gustilo led the awarding ceremony, which was held at the Liga Conference Room of the SCC Multi-Purpose Hall, Park Marina, on September 1, 2023. Also present were DILG Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO) VI Julie Shayne Barreto-Tagalog, SP Committee Chair on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Armando Laguda Jr., Head of the Solid Waste Management and Pollution Control Division Engr. Arthur Batomalaque, CENRO I Engr. Loreto Sanchez, CEMO IEC Team Leader Marieta Lomocso, and SGEG Evaluators Lorie Mae Sanchez and Forester Carlo Eran. First runner-up is Barangay Punao, which received Php150,000, followed by Barangay Ermita, which received Php100,000.

Lastimoso expressed gratitude for the award and stated they would use the prize money to support environmental projects in their barangay. The local tourism office will also provide Brgy. Codcod with one million pesos for the improvement of Magonon Falls.