DILG Cebu Province Issues Clarification on Viral Social Media Awards for Vice Mayors
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cebu Province has officially clarified that it has no involvement whatsoever in a viral image circulating on social media platforms that claims to present awards to the so-called best performing vice mayors in Cebu province for the year 2025. In a statement released on January 28, 2026, the office emphasized its disassociation from this unofficial recognition, urging the public to exercise caution and vigilance when encountering such claims.
Official Performance Assessments and Recognitions by DILG
According to the DILG Province, the department regularly conducts comprehensive performance assessments of every local government unit (LGU), including barangays, as part of its mandate to ensure good governance across all localities. These assessments are thorough and correspond to official awards and incentives granted to recognize exemplary institutional performance and compliance with established standards.
The DILG specified that it only recognizes 12 official awards, which are:
- Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)
- Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH)
- Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Functionality Audit
- Peace and Order Council (POC) Functionality Audit
- Local Legislative Award (LLA)
- Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG)
- Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) Functionality Audit
- Local Council on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children Functionality Audit
- Subaybayan Award
- Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays (SGLGB)
- Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award (LTIA)
- Bansiwag Awards for LGUs
The department stated categorically that outside of these 12 awards, there are no other recognitions given by DILG. It further clarified that it does not endorse or have any involvement in other awards proliferating on social media or similar platforms that claim to be linked to the department.
Details of the Viral Social Media Awards
It was reported that 27 out of the total 51 vice mayors in Cebu province were recognized as Best Performing Vice Mayors for their achievements in local legislation, community engagement, and service excellence in 2025. While many of those included expressed happiness, some also voiced surprise and confusion over the awards.
For instance, Borbon Mayor Nico Dotillos questioned why he received an award, and Argao Vice Mayor Orvi Ortega posted similar sentiments on social media. The awards were reportedly given by a social media page called Transparency Good Governance and Accountability Advocates.
Based on the group's statement, they conducted a survey titled Boses ng Bayan involving 6,000 adult respondents from December 5, 2025, to January 5, 2026. The group acknowledged the top 10 best performing vice mayors, citing their dedication, competence, and effective legislation as contributing factors to proactive councils and legislative agendas.
The survey bases included:
- Passage of priority legislative measures
- Legislation related to infrastructure
- Peace and order initiatives
- Healthcare programs
- Education policies
- Jobs and employment schemes
- Agricultural developments
- Public safety measures
- Environmental sustainability efforts
DILG's Advisory and Further Actions
The DILG clarified that while it recognizes awards given by other government agencies, private organizations, and institutions, it strongly advised the public to carefully assess the credibility, mandate, assessment criteria, and track record of awarding bodies. This caution is essential to avoid misinformation and ensure that recognitions are based on legitimate and transparent processes.
The office added that it has already raised these concerns with its higher office for further public guidance, highlighting its commitment to maintaining integrity in local governance assessments. This move aims to prevent similar incidents in the future and uphold the standards of official DILG programs.
