Republic of the Philippines

DILG to Prioritize Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days of a Child’s Life As the Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCD Council) transitions into the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as an attached agency in 2026, the Department is focusing on improving the nutritional needs of children during the crucial first 1,000 days of life. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla underscored the importance of proper nutrition in a child’s early years, saying that it directly affects lifelong development. “The most critical part of a young person’s development is in the first 1,000 days. And in the Philippines, nutrition seems to be the most deficient part. More than exposure to learning materials, it is nutrition where we are lacking,” he said during a budget hearing on Thursday. Secretary Remulla emphasized that enhanced nutritional support during this period could be key to unlocking the full potential of Filipino children. He said the DILG will work closely with local government units (LGUs) to strengthen feeding programs and ensure greater access to nutrition-focused interventions in Child Development Centers (CDCs). “If we can have better intervention through the mandatory feeding of children, it will go a long way in increasing the mean IQ development of our children,” he added. He also pointed out the strong link between early childhood nutrition and cognitive performance. “The functional IQ for a working person in a factory in a province in Cavite is about 90, which is functionally literate enough to operate. But the national average is around 86. That is not because of the lack of education but the poor nutritional value of children’s upbringing at a young age,” Remulla said. To close these gaps, the DILG urges both local and national governments to ensure that every barangay has an operational CDC capable of delivering quality child development and nutrition programs. Currently, over 28,000 barangays have CDCs, but more effort is needed to expand access and raise service quality. Republic Act No. 12199, or the Early Years Act of 2023, mandates LGUs to deliver ECCD programs centered on proper nutrition, education, and holistic care. Under this law, the ECCD Council becomes an attached agency of the DILG, co-chaired by the DILG Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has also allotted one billion pesos for the establishment of additional CDCs in barangays without such facilities, ensuring that more communities can provide early education and nutritional support to children. Through stronger ECCD implementation and improved nutrition programs, the DILG reaffirms its commitment to giving every Filipino child the best possible start in life, building a healthier, smarter, and more capable generation for a Bagong Pilipinas. ###

DILG’s Proposed P287.4-Billion 2026 Budget Gains Senate Committee Approval The Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) proposed P287.4-billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, covering its ten attached agencies, has received the approval of the Senate Committee on Finance and is now up for presentation to the Senate plenary. “Bawat pisong nakalaan dito ay patunay ng ating malasakit at determinasyon para sa mas ligtas na mga komunidad, matiwasay na mga ahensya, at pamahalaang lokal, at isang matino, mahusay, at maaasahang Kagawaran,” said DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla during his presentation of the budget on Thursday. The proposed 2026 budget is 1.8 percent higher than the 2025 appropriation. The Philippine National Police (PNP) receives the largest allocation at P210.1 billion, followed by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) with P32.7 billion, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) with P29.3 billion. Other allocations are as follows: DILG Office of the Secretary – P8.9 billion; National Police Commission – P2.5 billion; National Commission on Muslim Filipinos – P1.2 billion; Philippine Public Safety College – P1.2 billion; Local Government Academy – P544 million; Early Childhood Care and Development Center – P357 million; National Youth Commission – P323 million; and Philippine Commission on Women – P180 million. According to the DILG, the proposed budget will support the hiring of 6,000 new police, fire, and jail personnel; the construction of 99 new fire stations and one jail facility; maintenance of newly built fire stations and fire trucks; procurement of firearms and radios for the BJMP; establishment of national child development centers; and the full operationalization of the DILG Negros Island Region, among others. Secretary Remulla underscored that the Department will ensure the judicious use of public funds to build safer, stronger, and more inclusive communities under the Bagong Pilipinas vision. He said the DILG remains firm in its commitment to make every peso work for the Filipino people through stronger local governance, more efficient institutions, and more resilient communities. ###

DILG Reaffirms Full Support to LGUs, NEOs in Strengthening Local Planning and Budgeting The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reaffirmed its strong commitment to assist all Local Government Units (LGUs) and Newly Elected Officials (NEOs) in preparing their local development and budget plans under the Updated Synchronized Local Planning and Budgeting Calendar (SLPBC). The Updated SLPBC provides a clear and unified framework for LGUs to align their local priorities with national development goals. It contains a detailed schedule of key activities, including the submission of Comprehensive Development Plans (CDP) by cities and municipalities by March 2026, ensuring timely and evidence-based planning at the local level. This initiative forms part of the government’s broader effort to streamline local development processes under a joint circular issued by the DILG with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).  The updated guidelines strengthen provincial oversight, foster inter-agency convergence, and synchronize planning and budgeting calendars across provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. To further empower LGUs, the DILG continues to enhance planning tools and capacity-building programs. Among these are the updated 2019 Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP)+ Manual and Easy Guide, which help local planners craft risk-informed and climate-responsive development plans. The Department has likewise conducted Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Module III-B training from May to July 2025, equipping local focal persons and coaches to use community-level data for informed decision-making. The DILG urges all LGUs to comply with the SLPBC timelines and processes, emphasizing that efficient and synchronized planning is key to translating local aspirations into tangible results for communities. Through continuous technical assistance, policy guidance, and practical planning tools, the DILG stands ready to support LGUs in achieving responsive, inclusive, and transparent governance, consistent with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028 and the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to empower LGUs and expand their fiscal and developmental capacities. ###

Remulla: Respect for Protest, Zero Tolerance for Violence Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla affirmed the government’s respect for peaceful protest but underscored that any form of violence or disorder will not be tolerated. “Everybody has their right to air their grievances.  Pero hindi kami papayag sa anarchy, hindi kami papayag sa violence. But the right to air your grievances is okay lang,” he said when he personally went to Forbes Park in Makati to check the situation and give instructions to the police. Earlier, there were reports that a protest action will be held in front of the Makati subdivision at 10pm on Sunday night, which prompted the police to deploy personnel to ensure that the assembly will be peaceful. In an interview, Remulla said the Department, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP), continues to monitor the ground for any developments. “Wala eh. Nag-monitor kami buong gabi. The most we had, maybe a hundred  [protesters],” he said. He confirmed that he has spoken with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. whose guidance was clear and measured. “Sabi niya take care of the situation, ayun lang. Hindi naman siya nagpapanic, sabi lang niya, make sure no one gets hurt,” the DILG Secretary said. He also reiterated the primary mission of the PNP in maintaining peace and order.  “Civilian peacekeeping ang mission ng PNP. If may mga threats, we always take the threat seriously, ” he said.  The DILG urges the public to remain calm and continue cooperating with law enforcement to ensure safety and peace for all. ###

DILG Orders Immediate Structural Inspections in Earthquake-Hit Areas in Cebu and Mindanao In the wake of the recent series of strong earthquakes in Mindanao and continuing aftershocks affecting Regions VII, XI, and Caraga, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed all concerned local government units (LGUs) to immediately conduct thorough inspections and structural evaluations of affected buildings, infrastructure, and homes to safeguard lives and prevent further casualties. In its Advisory, the DILG emphasized that LGUs must undertake rapid structural assessments led by Building Officials, Municipal and City Engineers, and other technical personnel. Priority should be given to structures in heavily affected barangays and those reported to have visible cracks, partial collapse, or foundation damage. LGUs are likewise instructed to inspect tilted or displaced buildings and structures affected by ground fissures, sediment venting, and subsidence before allowing reoccupation. Residential structures must also be properly assessed to determine the extent of damage and ensure the safety of occupants. The Department further urged all LGUs, through their Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (RDRRM) Councils, to work closely with DPWH District Engineering Offices, Local DRRM Offices, and Barangay Officials in conducting joint inspections and sharing findings. All efforts must adhere to existing government issuances and protocols on post-earthquake structural evaluation. The DILG stressed that immediate safety actions must be implemented for structures declared unsafe, including the prompt evacuation and relocation of affected families to temporary shelters in coordination with Local DRRM Councils and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDOs). LGUs are also reminded to expedite the processing and issuance of permits for repair or reconstruction works necessary to rectify earthquake-related damage, ensuring compliance with national safety and engineering standards. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier directed all national agencies to extend urgent assistance to affected areas and fast-track recovery and rehabilitation measures. In line with this, the DILG reaffirmed its full support to all LGUs in ensuring public safety, structural integrity, and swift recovery in quake-affected communities. ###

DILG rolls out manual for tanods on barangay peacekeeping In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push for safer communities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched the Handbook for Barangay Tanods to reinforce their duties in the frontlines as barangay peacekeepers. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla underscored how this will cement the extensive roles of tanods in communities. “With this holistic guidebook, our barangay tanods are positioned to be more than just auxiliary enforcers – they are also community peacebuilders, rights advocates, and development partners,” he said. Through a collaboration with the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), the Department, through the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), enhanced its previous manual on Barangay Tanod Skills Enhancement to publish a comprehensive reference on the technical and ethical foundation of every barangay tanod. Based on the Local Government Code of 1991, Sangguniang Barangays are authorized to organize barangay tanods as needed for assistance in community-based mechanisms for peace and order among localities. This initiative reinforces their strengthened role in the communities as first responders, peacebuilders, rights advocates, and community development partners.  In the updated handbook accessible at https://bit.ly/2025TanodGuidebook, instructions for barangay tanods as first responders were improved to become effective agents in providing aid and support in procedures undertaken at a crime scene.It also includes their roles in upholding the laws concerning gender and development, child protection, cultural sensitivity, and human rights protection. With the recent issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 2025-072 on the deployment of barangay tanods to public schools, the handbook is instrumental in providing institutional support as they meet the expectations as the government’s extended arm to sustain peace and order. In addition to this initiative, the DILG and the JSCC conducted the Barangay Tanod Skills Enhancement Training to capacitate the tanods in the four justice zones in Angeles City, Balanga City, Calamba City, and Tagaytay City. With this move, the Department remains committed to capacitating our agents of peace and progress as the government’s force multipliers in ensuring public safety and development at the grassroots level. ###

Over 42,000 Barangays Mobilized for Assembly Day this October The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has mobilized more than 42,000 barangays nationwide to hold their Barangay Assembly Day for the second semester of 2025 on any Saturday or Sunday this October, in line with Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, and Proclamation No. 599, series of 2018. With the theme “Araw ng Pakikibahagi: Solusyon at Aksyon Ating Talakayin ngayong Barangay Assembly,” this nationwide call highlights the Marcos Administration’s push for transparent, accountable, and participatory governance, starting at the grassroots. Through Memorandum Circular 2025-102, the DILG directed all punong barangays to deliver a substantive State of Barangay Address (SOBA) during their assembly day. The report should cover accomplishments, fiscal status, implementation of ongoing programs and projects, and compliance with national laws and DILG issuances. Barangays are also expected to present updates on the implementation of key national initiatives such as the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC), the KALINISAN program, the Barangay Full Disclosure Policy, and the Barangay Violence Against Women (VAW) Desks. Meanwhile, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairpersons must present their own reports and ensure that planning, financial, and accounting documents are properly posted on the SK Full Public Disclosure Policy Board. The Department underscored the importance of the open forum segment in gathering feedback from residents to guide the legislative actions of the Sangguniang Barangay.  To ensure strong turnout, barangays must announce their assembly schedules at least one week in advance through banners and social media platforms. The DILG also reminded barangay officials that failure to conduct their Barangay Assembly Day may warrant disciplinary action. With the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) reset to 2026, the DILG emphasized that initiatives like the Barangay Assembly are essential to strengthening public trust, deepening civic participation, and sustaining good governance in every community. ###

PH, DILG to Chair ASEAN Smart Cities Network in 2026: Setting the Standard for Resilient and Accountable Local Governance The Philippines is poised to assume a critical regional leadership role as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is to officially take on the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) in 2026. The chairmanship was formally transferred on September 9th by Malaysia’s Deputy Secretary-General Mohd Hazli Bin Ahmad Adnan to DILG Undersecretary Marlo L. Iringan. This signals the country’s reinforced dedication to leading regional smart, resilient, and people-centered urbanization. During the 8th ASCN Annual Meeting, Usec. Iringan highlighted that being a smart community is not merely about installing high-tech infrastructure; it is fundamentally about ensuring accountable and efficient local governance that directly improves the lives of citizens. The DILG’s leadership will focus on integrating technological advancement with the core Bagong Pilipinas mandate: Verifiable Impact: Usec. Iringan presented the demonstrable progress of our member cities, including the Command City Upgrade and e-Government Service in Manila and the strategic implementation of the Converged Command Center and Control in Davao. Driving LGU Accountability: The expansion of the ASCN to include Cauayan City in 2025 emphasizes the national drive to ensure all LGUs, regardless of size, adopt the standards necessary for efficient service delivery. Global Best Practices: The ongoing initiatives showcase tangible, modern solutions: Cebu’s Automated Citywide Traffic Control System and Bus Rapid Transit System and Davao’s focus on Intelligent Transportation and Security. “These projects demonstrate that smart cities are not an abstract idea,” Iringan said. “They are real solutions that improve daily life–faster services, safer streets, more efficient mobility, and stronger resilience.” The DILG also highlighted the Developing Resilient, Innovative, Vibrant, and Efficient Smart Local Governments Nationwide (DRIVEN) Program, implemented with the World Bank, which lays the groundwork for a Philippine Smart Local Governments (PSLG) platform. This initiative will unite LGUs and partners nationwide to integrate digital governance, sustainable infrastructure, and citizen-driven innovation. “Being a smart and sustainable community is not just about high-tech infrastructure, but also about fostering a sense of community, creativity, and resilience among its citizens,” he added. Established in 2018 in Singapore, the ASCN is a collaborative platform that connects 35 cities across Southeast Asia to pursue innovative and sustainable solutions to urban challenges With its chairmanship, the Philippines will steer the ASCN’s collaboration among 35 cities across Southeast Asia, building on its track record to position Filipino LGUs at the forefront of regional efforts to modernize urban governance, advance climate resilience, and enhance the quality of life for all citizens. The Philippines is ready to lead the ASCN, ensuring this platform drives real, felt change at the grassroots level. ###

DILG recognized for GAD budget performance in 2024 The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has achieved significant recognition from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) for its exemplary allocation and utilization of the Gender and Development (GAD) Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. This commendation reaffirms the DILG’s strategic commitment to transforming GAD mandates into tangible, on-the-ground action, which is central to the Bagong Pilipinas agenda of good governance. PCW monitors the gender-responsiveness and GAD budget allocation and use of government entities, including Line Agencies, National Government Agencies (NGAs), Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). According to PCW’s FY 2024 GAD budget monitoring and review, DILG ranked 10th for NGAs with the highest client-focused allocation, 4th for Line Agencies with the highest client-focused allocation, and 8th for Line Agencies with the highest organization-focused allocation. The DILG’s success is rooted in translating policy into LGU performance. Client-focused initiatives include Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) mainstreaming workshops and essential advocacy campaigns. Organization-focused efforts include strengthening the GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) and jointly issuing guidelines for the localization of the Magna Carta of Women. The Department also institutionalizes GAD best practices through the GAD Seal program, which recognizes regional and provincial offices that successfully integrate gender-responsiveness into local policies, systems, and structures. The top agencies honored by PCW are Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), consistently ranking in the top 10 of 14 categories in the GAD budget performance review, demonstrating cross-government commitment to inclusivity. Other government entities recognized are national government and line agencies including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Education; GOCCs such as Social Security System and National Housing Authority; and, SUCs such as West Visayas State University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, and the University of the Philippines System, among others. First introduced in the 1995 General Appropriations Act as “The Women’s Budget,” the GAD budget policy mandates all government entities to allocate at least 5% of their total budget to support annual GAD plans and programs. This provision is anchored on Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women In support of the government’s pursuit of accountability and inclusivity under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas, the DILG affirms its resolve to uphold the dignity and rights of all Filipinos by improving gender-responsiveness of government policies, plans, and programs. ###

DDILG URGES LGUs TO PREPARE FOR LPA LIKELY TO BECOME TROPICAL DEPRESSION “PAOLO” The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is calling on  local chief executives to prepare for another  low-pressure area which may intensify into a tropical depression to be named “Paolo” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility. Based on the latest weather advisory, the LPA, which could gain strength and become the 16th typhoon in the country, may affect areas  still reeling from tropical cyclones MIRASOL, NANDO, and OPONG, raising the risk of flooding, landslides, and river overflow in rain-saturated communities. At the same time, the Easterlies are forecast to bring scattered rains and thunderstorms across Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, and Northern Samar, with the rest of the country expecting isolated rainshowers. Flash floods and landslides are possible due to moderate to heavy rainfall. In its Advisory, the DILG urged local government units to maintain close coordination with their respective Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs) and carry out preparedness measures. Among such measures are: launching preemptive clean-up operations, declogging drainage systems, pruning trees, and prepositioning garbage trucks and response personnel. Barangay officials are also  urged to mobilize communities in cleaning public areas to help reduce flooding risks. Local governments must also intensify public information campaigns through local media and community channels to advise residents, especially those in high-risk areas, to prepare emergency kits, secure homes, and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of severe weather. This directive supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a  resilient, responsive Bagong Pilipinas guided by proactive and effective local governance. ###