Republic of the Philippines

DILG to LGUs: Ensure Day Care, Health Centers Are Open on Election Day The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday called on local government units (LGUs) to keep their day care centers open on election day to accommodate parents with young children and ensure their ability to vote without disruption. “Sa darating na halalan, buksan nila ang kanilang daycare center nang sa ganun puwedeng dalhin ng mga magulang ang kanilang anak doon para makaboto sila nang maayos,” said DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan. He also emphasized the need for LGUs to open their health centers on May 12 to handle any medical incidents that may occur as voters head to polling precincts. The DILG continues to support the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in spreading key resolutions and guidelines, particularly those concerning vote buying, vote selling, and the misuse of state resources. Through its “Kontra-Bigay” campaign, the Department conducted a nationwide webinar viewed by over 50,000 netizens, focusing on vital COMELEC issuances ahead of the elections. Earlier, DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla issued Memorandum Circular No. 2025-016, directing LGUs to form Local Government Transition Teams that will handle the inventory of properties, records, and finances in preparation for the assumption of incoming local officials. “We have already directed our field officers to ensure that the transition team is organized and doing the inventory. So that, come July 1, there will be a proper turnover of all these properties, records and finances to the new set of local officials,” Iringan said.

DILG Statement on the Signing of the Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Law The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) welcomes the signing of Republic Act No. 12177 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., granting free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel. The new law will significantly benefit uniformed personnel from the DILG’s attached agencies, namely the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), who are facing civil, criminal, or administrative cases arising from the performance of their duties. Republic Act No. 12177 establishes a formal mechanism for military and uniformed personnel to access free legal services, ensuring that institutional support is readily available whenever they face service-related cases. With the enactment of this law, the DILG is confident that police, fire, and jail personnel will be able to perform their duties with greater focus and confidence, free from the fear of harassment through baseless or unwarranted cases.

DILG to LGUs: Ensure Equal Access to Public Facilities Regardless of Political Affiliation With the elections fast approaching, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged all local government units (LGUs) to guarantee equal access to public facilities for all, regardless of political affiliation, religious beliefs, or other similar considerations. This directive covers the use of barangay halls, multi-purpose halls, civic centers, plazas, parks, open spaces, covered courts, sports complexes, recreational centers, and other comparable public venues. In Memorandum Circular 2025-037, the DILG emphasized that LGUs must provide political entities with equal opportunities to use these facilities for lawful purposes such as assemblies and meetings, particularly during the election period when such requests must be given priority. The Department clarified that LGUs may implement reasonable guidelines governing the use of public facilities, provided these are consistent with existing rules and regulations and are applied uniformly. These guidelines must also advance public welfare and convenience, aligned with the nature and intended purpose of the facilities. The DILG further underscored the importance of prudence and fairness in the administration of public properties, in keeping with the principles of equity and public service. At the same time, LGUs are reminded to act on all applications or requests for access to government facilities within three days from the date of receipt, in compliance with the Ease of Doing Business Act and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) regulations. The DILG warned that if an LGU fails to act within the prescribed period, the request shall be deemed approved, provided that all necessary documents have been submitted and applicable fees paid.

DILG to launch infra audit tool to assess structural integrity of buildings vs “Big One”   The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to launch an infrastructure audit tool which will assess the structural integrity of buildings in preparation for the possibility of a large-magnitude earthquake or the “Big One” in the metropolis and nearby areas. DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo Iringan said the Harmonized Infrastructure Audit tool will be utilized to ensure the resilience of buildings in the country against earthquakes. “This tool will establish a national standard for assessing local public infrastructures, particularly their vulnerability to high-magnitude earthquakes,” he explained. Iringan represented Secretary Jonvic Remulla during the 2nd Earthquake Preparedness Summit organized by the Office of Civil Defense on Tuesday in Quezon City. The DILG Secretary sits as the Vice Chairperson for Disaster Preparedness of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. He said the tool, which will help LGUs identify the priority structures subject to infra audits, will be pilot-tested in the National Capital Region, Region III, and CALABARZON. He said the Department also partnered with the academe to tap 4th-year and 5th-year engineering students to help in assessing the infrastructures. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, about 3,200 structures are along the West Valley Fault, while 12% to 13% of residential buildings are forecast to sustain heavy damage in the onslaught of the “Big One.” During the event, the DILG also discussed its programs to enhance LGU earthquake preparedness and resilience such as Operation L!sto and the Basic Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for barangays.

Remulla urges Governors to purchase motorcycles for local police February 10, 2025 Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos. Jr.’s directive to strengthen the emergency 911 system, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday urged provincial governors to acquire motorcycles for their local police to allow them to verify the legitimacy of incidents reported to the emergency hotline. During the 7th General Assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines in Pasig City, Remulla asked for the governors’ support to make the 911 system more efficient as 60% of the calls it receives are from pranksters. “Ito lang ang hihilingin ko sa inyo: bumili na kayo ng motorsiklo. Bigay n’yo sa mga pulis para sila lang muna ang magveverify kung legitimate ang tawag o hindi,” he said. Remulla said purchasing motorcycles for the local police is a small investment for the governors to ensure that government resources will not be deployed or wasted for false emergencies. “Ayun lang ang investment n’yo, maliit lang naman iyon. It should be enough,” he said. He shared that during his four terms as Cavite governor, he acquired a total of 800 police cars as logistical support for the local police force to allow them to respond quickly to calls for assistance from the public. He said that the national government will shoulder all the expenses for the launching of the nationwide integrated 911 system as the President recently ordered adjustments to the national budget to support the 911 system. “Ang investment lang ng LGUs is I ask you to give policemen access to motorcycles para first response, laging pulis para madetermine talaga ang nangyayari,” he said. He said that towns will be provided with firetrucks and ambulances to ensure that they will be able to provide quick response to the public during emergencies. “Ang 911 kasi balewala yan kung tatawag ka lang tapos ang response wala rin. Parang nagsusumbong ka lang. So kailangan ma-capacitate natin ang mga LGUs na may kakayanan silang mag respond,” said Remulla. The DILG plans to launch the integrated 911 Emergency Response system by June in the Greater Manila area, Cebu, and Mindanao, and in each region every month thereafter.

Remulla expresses full support for OGP, hopes LGUs will follow suit February 10, 2025 In support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s efforts to build a more responsive, inclusive, and transparent government, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed his commitment for Open Government Partnership (OGP), hoping the initiative will trickle down to local government units (LGUs). “We are in the pursuit of having it institutionalized all over the country,” he said during the 2025 Open Government Partnership Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in Taguig City where the President gave his opening remarks. He emphasized his belief in the power of collaboration with civil society, a practice he learned during his term as Cavite Governor. “I believe in open conversations, dapat laging nag-uusap at lagi natututo,” he said. He shared that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he partnered with De La Salle University to create Cavite’s most advanced COVID laboratory. “It was a very open and transparent partnership, even revenue sharing, investment, and everything,” he said. “I believe in tapping expertise. Kailangan ‘yung mga available talents sa community, itatap lahat ‘yan, gobyerno man o hindi. Basta magaling, basta matino, basta tama ang pananaw sa pamamalakad ng gobyerno, laging pinapartner ‘yan,” he added. As DILG Secretary, Remulla said he is currently collaborating with the University of the Philippines – National College of Public Administration and Governance to help with the needed reforms in the Philippine National Police. The OGP, founded in 2011 by eight countries including the Philippines, is an international movement that unites governments and civil society to champion transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.

DILG wants digitalized forms to reduce time spent by LCEs in signing docus February 7, 2025 Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he wants to digitalize and simplify forms to reduce the number of hours spent by mayors and governors in signing documents. He said a local chief executive usually devotes three hours a day or 15 hours a week just to sign numerous documents such as contracts, notice of salary adjustment, notice of award, among others. He recalled that when he was Cavite governor, he once had to sign four copies of the notice of step increment for each of the province’s 4,000 employees. “Dapat matapos ko ‘yun. Pirma lang ng pirma, puwede namang digitized, so we are going in that direction,” he said at an event with local chief executives in Cebu. During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. directed all government offices to digitalize vital services immediately to facilitate ease of doing business and combat corruption. The DILG Chief said he wants to simplify the work of local chief executives and make things more systematic and efficient considering their huge workload and the expectations from their constituents. “Kayo ang direct link sa tao, kayo naman ang araw araw nagsisilbi eh. Let’s make our life simpler and lead more effectively,” he said. According to him, the DILG is now meeting with the Commission on Audit and the Civil Service Commission to devise a program to simplify the process. “We would come up with a program. By June 30, 2025, ang pirmahin n’yo na 15 hours a week, irereduce natin to one (1) hour a week na lang, by digitalization, simplifying the forms, lahat yan simplified into one hour a week,” Remulla said.

Remulla to LGUs: Develop human capital February 7, 2025 Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday urged Local Chief Executives (LCEs) to develop human capital, citing it as the greatest treasure of the country. “Dapat ang mga Mayors, Governors, dinidevelop hindi lang legacy na maaalala kayo para sa grand structure o kalye. Kailangan madevelop natin ‘yung mga tao,” said Remulla during an interfacing activity with Cebu local chief executives at the provincial capitol. He shared that he invested in developing human resources in Cavite when he was governor as evidenced by the province’s highly educated workforce produced by the Cavite State University. He also said the country has the capacity to provide manpower to neighboring nations such as the United Arab Emirates, where 1.7 million Filipino nurses work. “Their entire health care system revolves around Filipino nurses and what does that tell us? It is human capital above all and that is why we have to empower ourselves,” he said. Meanwhile, he said his visit to Cebu is only one of the many interfacing activities that he plans to do as DILG Secretary. “Buong buhay ko Cavite centric ako eh. Ngayon, nasa national [government] ako, I also want to hear from our govs, mayors kung ano nangyayari dito at kung paano makakatulong ang national government.” “I am your link, I am your champion to local governance and I will always be here to listen, to help, and again not to impose the powers of my office,” he added. He stressed that LGUs should be given greater local autonomy to determine their own fate. “The National Government should, at the very least, not interfere and only guide LGUs. If you give them [LGUs] the autonomy, the freedom to decide then a lot of things can happen.”

Statement on Circulation of Spliced Video About Alleged PNP Exemption From Drug Tests February 3, 2025 Jonvic C. Remulla DILG Secretary The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) denounces efforts to discredit the government and the Philippine National Police (PNP) through the circulation of a spliced video on the alleged removal of mandatory drug and neuropsychological testing among active police personnel. The spliced video with the caption “Malaya at Legal na gumamit ng Droga ang PNP at AFP only in the Philippines sa Bagong Pilipinas ni Marcos Jr.” was first posted by Dalagang Pilipina (@fierceLady08) on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) last January 9, 2025. The video was edited to deliberately mislead viewers into believing that police and army personnel are now exempt from taking the mandatory drug and psych tests. The caption is downright malicious and discredits not only the police organization but also the Office of the President. Let me emphasize that the exemption granted to PNP personnel only applies exclusively for their application for a new or renewal of license to own and possess firearms. This exemption is granted in recognition of the regular and comprehensive drug and neuropsychological testing they already undergo as part of their service, including annual screenings and mandatory testing during specialized courses and training. Given the thorough evaluations and strict monitoring they are subjected to, requiring another round of drug testing would be redundant and counterproductive, as it undermines the PNP’s efforts to streamline the process, improve operational efficiency, and reduce unnecessary procedural burdens. We will not allow individuals or groups to malign the name and integrity of the PNP and the government. We appeal to the public to use social media responsibly and ensure that their content is always truthful and accurate.

DILG Statement on the malicious use of photos for online lottery app January 27, 2025 Jonvic C. Remulla DILG Secretary The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) strongly condemns the unauthorized use of our logos, photos, and other Department markings and materials for unrelated posts, advertisements, or any malicious purposes. We have received reports that a certain Mobile Application “PCSO Lotto Online Award” and its linked Facebook Page “Online Lotto” intentionally misused the photos taken during a DILG event for an advertisement promoting the said online lottery application. The Department has neither authorized nor granted permission to the said application, FB page, or any entity to use our materials, particularly for such purposes. The photos were from the “Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024 Awarding Ceremony and SGLG Incentive Fund National Expo”, which was about celebrating local governance excellence and was in no way related to any online lottery. We have already directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group to immediately investigate this matter. We have also reported this unauthorized use of DILG materials to META for further action. We advise the public to be more vigilant and immediately report any similar activity to the nearest DILG or PNP office.