Republic of the Philippines

List of Qualified Applicants for Fire Officer I who passed PAT and for Final Interview

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said that cooperation of local government units is the most important facet in addressing the perennial traffic jams in the National Capital Region (NCR). He made the statement on Wednesday during the “Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Concerns” in San Juan City. The town hall meeting was held to bring together various stakeholders and discuss situations, challenges, and recommendations for the improvement of the traffic situation in Metro Manila. “The local governments are the most important, I have to say, ” PBBM said. Marcos added the national government can plan everything it wants but it would be for naught without the full support of LGUs. “We need to have the cooperation of the local governments to understand what the problems are in your place, what the possible solutions are, and how we bring it all together into one complete system which we can monitor and regulate.” He emphasized that prioritizing the traffic problem is important as it affects people’s quality of life and the country’s economic growth and balanced development. Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos expressed the same sentiment as the President, saying that LGUs and barangays play a big part in DILG’s efforts to ease traffic. “Isa sa mga solusyon na pinaiigting natin ay ang tinatawag nating road-clearing operations sa lahat ng mga pampublikong kalsada, eskinita at lansangan. Napakalaking papel po ng ating mga barangay dito, ng ating LGUs,” Abalos said. This, as he commended Barangay Holy Spirit’s road-clearing efforts with 92 roads cleared and thousands of illegal structures dismantled. The initiative led to the creation of an alternative route for motorists passing by Commonwealth area. Abalos also urged other local government officials to adopt solutions to address traffic problems in their respective localities. “Sa pangunguna ng ating mahal na Pangulong Marcos, patuloy po sana ang pakikiisa ng lahat ng mga kasamahang lokal na opisyal,” he said. ”Sa ating mga mayors at barangay captains, kausapin natin ang mga residente. Bumaba tayo. Ipaunawa natin na ang bawat mithiin at inisyatibo na ating gagawin at ng ating Pangulo ay upang magkaroon tayo ng mas ligtas na mga lansangan,” he added. According to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), traffic volume in Metro Manila increased by 17.68% from 2019 to 2023, due to an increase in the volume of vehicles, accidents and drivers’ undisciplined behavior. It also named current road configurations and conditions, and policies and penalty system as among the reasons for traffic jams. The town hall meeting was attended by the Secretaries of the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, and National Economic and Development Authority. Also with them were MMDA Chairman Don Artes, NCR mayors, DILG officials, and other stakeholders. ###

DILG STATEMENT ON EID AL-FITR 2024 Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. Secretary Eid Mubarak (a blessed feast) to all Muslim Filipinos as you celebrate Eid al- Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast) this April 2024! The DILG, together with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, greets our Muslim brothers and sisters a Ramadan Kareem! May this culminating event of the Holy Month of Ramadan be a time of rejoicing for the faith, discipline, and devotion you have practiced in the last 30 days. Let this also be a time to commit to carrying on the virtues that Ramadan has reminded you to possess such as willpower, compassion, patience, generosity, and gratitude. And may the teachings of Islam as a religion of peace be alive in you all throughout the year. Let us harness unity in diversity for an inclusively progressive Bagong Pilipinas! ###

DILG STATEMENT ON ARAW NG KAGITINGAN Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. Secretary On this Day of Valor 2024, let us come together and remember the bravery and heroism of our soldiers 84 years ago, when they willingly laid down their lives to liberate our nation from foreign aggressors. As we reflect on their courage and sacrifices during that infamous Death March, let us come up with complete resolve to ensure that their gallantry would not go in vain. As our country currently faces similar huge challenges and adversities, let us rally behind our beloved President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in standing up for our rights, and in protecting our sovereignty and independence as a nation. Let us emulate our heroes by keeping the flame of nationalism and love for country burning in our hearts, as we forge a Bagong Pilipinas that coexists peacefully and in harmony with the community of nations. Mabuhay ang Lahing Pilipino!

BFP6 Amendment on List of Qualified Applicants for Fire Officer I PAT

BFP6 List of Qualified Applicants for Fire Officer I for QWE and PAT

The value of cleanliness should be inculcated at home while children are still young and growing up in their communities. Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos made the call on Saturday during the weekly KALINISAN (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) clean-up activity at Barangay Pacita 1 in San Pedro, Laguna. “Ang kalinisan ay isang aspeto na sinisimulan sa mga bata pa lang. ‘Yung mga bata, sabihan natin sila na huwag magtapon. Let’s make this a way of life,” he said. He added: “Nagsisimula sa barangay, sa ating lahat. Magtulungan tayo, let’s make a difference. Isigaw natin na sa panahon natin, lilinisin natin ang Bagong Pilipinas at iyan ang gusto ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.” The DILG Secretary said “old values stick” and it is important for communities to work together for the progress and cleanliness of the country. Abalos explained that remarkable changes for the better would only be realized when good values and habits such as cleanliness are practiced and have emanated first from the house of every Juan dela Cruz. This, as he lauded San Pedro Mayor Art Mercado for ensuring that KALINISAN clean-up activities are done every week in every barangay in the city. “Natutuwa ako na ginagawa n’yo na ito linggo-linggo. Governance is the core of a good society. Importante ang magaling na lider dahil hinihimok niya ang mga mamamayan sa kanyang adbokasiya,” he said. For his part, Mayor Mercado said: “Together, let us roll up our sleeves and make San Pedro una sa kalinisan, una sa Laguna.” ###

Sound fiscal management across all levels of governance is key to ensuring improved performance and efficient delivery of basic services by local government units (LGUs) to their constituents. Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos made the remarks on Wednesday during the inter-agency signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1 s. 2024 on Public Financial Management (PFM) in Quezon City. He said: “Effective public financial management is the backbone of our governance framework and vehicle in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development in the country.” Abalos continued that this is the reason why sound fiscal management, including the improvement of the tax regime, is outlined as one of the goals in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028. The objective is to ensure a stable macroeconomic environment. During the signing, he was joined by the Secretaries of the member-agencies of the PFM Oversight Agencies, namely National Economic and Development Authority; the Department of Budget and Management; Department of Finance; and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, among others. Abalos pointed out the JMC aims to strengthen the adoption of a more evidence-based approach to service delivery of LGUs, ensuring that local programs and projects to be budgeted and implemented are truly responsive to the existing situation and needs of local communities. The joint memorandum was designed to harmonize and align the DILG, DHSUD, NEDA, DBM, and DOF’s respective PFM policies, implementing guidelines, tools, programs, and projects with key cross-cutting concerns in local governance. “We envision a stronger partnership and convergence of efforts among all the PFM Oversight Agencies in continuously providing guidance, developing relevant systems and tools, and in building capacities of LGUs in the implementation of effective and efficient PFM in their respective localities,” Abalos stressed. The DILG Chief underscored that the Department likewise implements efforts to uphold the practice of fiscal discipline and sustainability, and transparency and accountability in the use of public funds at the local government level. He added that the DILG’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) includes LGU Financial Administration and Sustainability, as one of the areas being assessed to foster a culture of good governance among LGUs amid the challenges in the local government landscape. ###

Dapat tiyakin na ang mga lokal na programa at proyektong pinaglalaanan ng pondo ay tunay na tumutugon sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon at pangangailangan ng mga komunidad kung saan ito ipatutupad. Kaugnay nito ay pinangunahan ni Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, kasama ang iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan, ang paglagda sa joint memorandum circular ukol sa pagsasaayos ng pangangasiwa ng pondo sa mga pamahalaang lokal. “Magtutulungan ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan para magsagawa ng mga pagsasanay para sa mga local government units (LGUs) at patuloy silang gagabayan para sa maayos na pamamahala ng pondo sa kanilang mga lokalidad,” aniya. Kasama ni Abalos ang iba pang Kalihim ng mga miyembrong ahensya ng Public Financial Management (PFM) Oversight Agencies, kabilang ang National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); Department of Budget and Management (DBM); Department of Finance (DOF); at Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), at iba pa. Binigyang-diin ni Abalos na ang joint circular ay naglalayong palakasin ang paggamit ng evidence-based approach sa paghahatid ng serbisyo ng mga LGU. Aniya ito ay binalangkas upang pagsamahin at itugma ang mga polisiya, implementing guidelines, tools at mga programa at proyekto ng DILG, DHSUD, NEDA, DBM, at DOF tungkol sa PFM na mayroong magkakaugnay concern na may kinalaman sa lokal na pamamahala. “Effective public financial management is the backbone of our governance framework and vehicle in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development in the country,” dagdag pa niya. Sinabi pa ni Abalos na ito ang dahilan kung bakit ang sound fiscal management, kasama ang pagpapabuti ng tax regime, ay nakapaloob bilang isa sa mga layunin ng Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028. Idinagdag niya na ang DILG ay nagpapatupad ng mga inisyatiba upang itaguyod ang pagsasagawa ng fiscal discipline at sustainability, at transparency at accountability sa paggamit ng pampublikong pondo sa antas ng lokal na pamahalaan. Kabilang aniya sa assessment areas ng Seal of Good Local Governance ng DILG ang LGU Financial Administration and Sustainability upang itaguyod ang kultura ng mabuting pamamahala sa mga LGU sa gitna ng mga hamon na kinakaharap nila. ###

BFP6 List of Qualified Applicants for Fire Officer I