ILOILO CITY – Executives and officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) gathered together to a dialogue dubbed, “Stronger Together for Local Governance: DILG Executives and Officers’ Dialogue” today, September 8, 2022. The activity served as venue for coordination and consultation among officials, especially for the newly appointed heads of the department.

DILG Secretary Atty. Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr. encouraged DILG leaders present to set a parameter in handling authority and responsibilities in order to efficiently deliver the Department’s services, and to work together to attain goals adopting a common policy and system for the good of the people.

He also urged Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Directors from the Bureaus and Services of Central Office, Regional Directors and Provincial and City Directors to align the DILG’s mandate with the advocacies of other national government agencies.

“Importante na malinaw ang responsibilidad ng bawat isa, at kung anong authority meron tayo para wala nang gulo in the future. Set the goals, set the system of how we do it, and the rest ay nasa atin kung ano tayo kasipag na gawin ito,” emphasized the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.

Further, SILG Abalos Jr. expressed his gratitude to the DILG Family for the utmost cooperation and dedication of everyone during his visit at the regional offices as part of his efforts to extend support down to the grassroots level.

The Executives’ and Field Officers’ Dialogue is a milestone for DILG Western Visayas, as it hosts the first big national event of the new administration.

DILG 6 Regional Director Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero, in his message, stressed that the dialogue would allow DILG leaders to build a foundation for new things for the department – a new set of leaders to direct its path and new priorities to conquer.

“Embracing the ideals of DILG being matino, mahusay at maasahan, we are all definitely ready to take whatever challenge there is through collective acts of refocusing, redirecting and rebuilding. That is what being stronger together for local governance should also be,” said RD Ingeniero.

According to the SILG, there is much to be discussed and to work on, such as the COVID Endemic Update Protocols on Mask Mandate Outdoors. He also stressed the need for more flexibility in the implementation of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), in view of several changes. He also discussed several factors that must be considered, such as the decline in financial standing faced by several LGUs, prioritization of digitalization that may be adopted to get rid of corruption, and the need to capacitate local governments in the light of Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court Ruling by reassessing the Local Government Code.

Various issues and concerns were raised and addressed during the dialogue related to topics on 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP); DILG’s Direction in the Next 10 years; DILG Priorities for the Next 6 years; and other pressing issues on the programs, projects and activities (PPA) of the department including the Launch of Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign, National Simultaneous Bamboo and Tree Planting, and Vaccination Roll-out.

Initiating this dialogue brought the DILG to imperatively be agile in adapting and adjusting its targets and deliverables. This would enable to institutionalize existing programs and provide space for new innovations and priorities.

SILG Atty. Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr. as the lead in providing guidance to local governments’ attainment of full development in their communities, DILG will be more active and dynamic on its role towards national development that will contribute to achieve the President’s directive of building a better future for Filipinos.###