147 Eastern Visayas LGUs earn 2025 Good Financial Housekeeping seal

TACLOBAN CITY — A total of 147 local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas have been conferred the 2025 Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) distinction by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), reflecting the region’s strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound financial management.

This is an increase of 13 from 134 LGUs in the region that passed the assessment in 2024, according to the DILG regional office.

READ: Navotas City brings home seal of Good Financial Housekeeping

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Among the awardees are all six provinces and seven cities in the region, as well as 134 of its 136 municipalities, which successfully met the stringent requirements of the annual assessment.

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Only the towns of Giporlos in Eastern Samar and Pagsanghan in Samar were not conferred the recognition.

To qualify for the GFH distinction, LGUs must obtain either an unmodified or qualified audit opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA) based on the most recent annual audit report.

They must also fully comply with the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP), which requires the timely and complete posting of key financial documents in public places and on the FDP Portal.

Since its introduction in 2010, the GFH assessment has served as one of the DILG’s primary tools for measuring the financial performance of local governments. It evaluates how responsibly LGUs manage public funds and ensures transparency in the use of government resources.

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This recognition is considered an important benchmark of good governance, as GFH-compliant LGUs demonstrate adherence to national standards on fiscal accountability and public disclosure.

READ: Lapu-Lapu City earns seal of Good Financial Housekeeping

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The award also strengthens public confidence in local governments and serves as a prerequisite for eligibility to certain national government incentives, grants, and performance-based programs.

The DILG regional office described the achievement as a testament to the region’s collective efforts to promote responsible governance and protect public trust through prudent financial management.

Among the cities recognized was Tacloban City, which maintained its streak as a GFH passer for 2025.

Mayor Alfred Romualdez said the award reflects the city government’s continuing commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public resources.

“This recognition reflects the city government’s continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public resources. It demonstrates our dedication to protecting and properly managing government assets, strengthening resilience, and ensuring that every program, project, and investment contributes to a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Tacloban,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Biliran, and Leyte received 100 percent compliance with their respective municipalities obtaining GFH marks.

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With nearly all LGUs in Eastern Visayas earning the distinction and Leyte posting full compliance, regional DILG said the results underscore the continued progress of local governments in upholding the highest standards of fiscal responsibility and good governance./coa