Republic of the Philippines

DILG honors excellence in public service, capacity development at 10th CapDev ACE The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognized outstanding public servants and partners during the 10th Capacity Development Awards for Catalysts of Excellence (CapDev ACE), highlighting excellence in public service and capacity building at the local level. Organized by the DILG–Local Government Academy, CapDev ACE honors exemplary DILG officials and staff, field units, Local Governance Regional Resource Centers (LGRRCs), and partners for impactful capacity development initiatives. Representing DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Undersecretary Marlo Iringan said the awardees embody President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for dedicated and honest public service in advancing the vision of Bagong Pilipinas. Leading this year’s honorees was DILG–National Capital Region Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, who received the Tatak ng Agila or Capacity Development Leadership Award for strengthening Metro Manila’s disaster preparedness through the Tangguyob 2024 initiative. The Singsing ng Tanikala Award for Best City or Municipal Local Government Operations Officer was awarded to Olivia Bagasbas of Tandag City and Ildefonso Orquejo Jr. of Calatrava, Negros Occidental for their people-centered and transformative governance initiatives. Eden Lanuza of DILG Region V received the Dagitab ng Paglilingkod Award for ICT modernization efforts, while DILG Aklan Provincial Director Dino Ponsaran earned the Dangal ng Kagawaran for their comprehensive development planning innovations among local governments. The Bugkos ng Bayan Award went to DILG Ilocos Sur for integrating cultural heritage into governance, while LGRRCs 6 and 9 received the Ugnay ng Mamamayan Award for collaborative capacity development efforts. DILG Undersecretary Hubert Gervacio was also honored with the Bagwis ng Paglilingkod Award given to top officials for upholding the mandate and core values of the Department in providing capdev to LGUs. Now in its 10th year, CapDev ACE continues to build a Circle of ACEs that strengthens local governance and advances the DILG’s matino, mahusay, at maaasahan brand of service nationwide. ###

 DILG: Christmas shines brighter for 3.1M Filipinos as SBDP lights up insurgency-cleared barangays This Christmas season, light is no longer a luxury for thousands of once-dark, conflict-affected communities. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said around 3.1 million Filipinos in 759 insurgency-cleared barangays are now celebrating brighter nights and safer days, following the completion of rural electrification projects funded under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP). From 2022 to 2025, the DILG completed 463 rural electrification projects, bringing power to far-flung communities through on-grid connections and off-grid solar solutions. Streets that were once unlit now have light. Homes that relied on lamps now have electricity. Barangays that used to shut down at sundown are now open to opportunity. In Barangay Banwague in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, electricity has changed daily life. Residents can now run small businesses, sell frozen goods, and stay connected through Wi-Fi services. For communities nearly 30 kilometers away from the city proper, access to power has meant access to income and dignity. In Barangay Bikil, Tubungan, Iloilo, solar streetlights now guide residents who leave for work before dawn and return home at night. Safer roads and brighter streets have eased daily travel and strengthened community security. According to barangay leaders, electrification has not only brought light, but also livelihood, safety, and hope, especially during the Christmas season when families seek both celebration and stability. The DILG said the work continues, with more than 300 additional SBDP rural electrification projects currently in various stages of implementation. Beyond power, the SBDP also funds schools, water systems, health stations, farm-to-market roads, housing, and agricultural facilities in geographically isolated and conflict-affected areas. The SBDP is a flagship program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s whole-of-nation approach to lasting peace and inclusive development. For the DILG, every light switched on is a step away from conflict and a step closer to a better life for Filipino communities. ###

DILG and ULAP open national convention on LGC RevAmP Consensus building and frank dialogue took the spotlight as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), together with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), gathered multisectoral stakeholders for the first National Convention for the Local Government Code Review and Amendment Program or LGC RevAmP. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier stressed that updating the Local Government Code must be a priority to keep governance efficient, responsive, and fully aligned with national progress. Held at Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay in Parañaque City, the convention formally opened the nationwide consultations that will collect insights and recommendations and move toward a unified position on needed amendments. Enacted as Republic Act 7160, the 1991 Code reshaped national and local relations and ushered in a new era of local autonomy. More than three decades later, the country now faces more complex demands that require a recalibrated framework. Participants raised key issues on the Code’s provisions, the fiscal impact of devolved services, and the roles of partner institutions, all pointing to the need for a modernized governance structure that responds to today’s realities. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Government, said the LGC must be revisited to address current governance challenges. House Committee on Local Government Chair Representative Florencio T. Miraflores added that any review must strengthen autonomy while ensuring accountability from local governments. ULAP President and lead co-convenor Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua emphasized that the country needs a refreshed framework that meets the evolving needs of Filipino communities and promotes stronger collaboration across all levels of government. Representatives from civil society organizations, national agencies, and other partners also joined the event, reaffirming a shared commitment to helping shape the future of local governance in the Philippines. ###

Remulla: LGUs Hold the Key to Lifting Filipinos Out of Poverty Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday underscored the decisive role of local governments in breaking the country’s cycle of poverty and pushing progress down to every community. Speaking at the launch of the Philippines Economic Update Report titled Growth Corridors: Pathways Out of Poverty, Remulla said real development begins at the local level, where leaders confront daily the realities that shape the lives of ordinary Filipinos. “We are a rich country pretending to be poor. It just takes a few leaders to unlock its potential. To point it in the right direction. As a nation, we can move forward,” the Secretary said. He stressed that LGUs remain the country’s most consistent frontliners of service. They respond to citizens every day, carry out national priorities, and answer directly to the people they serve. “This is what local governments do. If you think national government is hard, local government is even harder. People go to you with their problems every day. When a new initiative is announced, they watch closely if it is real. In local government, it is nearly impossible to have a ghost project. You cannot walk into a barangay and claim a project that does not exist. People will not vote for you. And it happens, it happens often,” Remulla said. He described LGUs as the country’s “sole remaining unblemished and still functioning” institutions, trusted by communities to spend public funds responsibly and deliver results that can be seen and felt. He added that this is also the direction set by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who believes that strong and accountable local governance is essential in fighting corruption and sustaining national growth. To show what strong local leadership can achieve, Remulla cited Cavite’s transformation into an economic powerhouse with poverty incidence now in single digits. “With a population of five million, Cavite has gone from what it was 40 years ago to becoming number one in growth and development. Finally, we have a chance. The Philippines has a chance,” he said. The PEU report, published twice a year by the World Bank Group, highlights economic trends and offers growth forecasts for countries. This year’s edition reinforces the importance of urbanization and strong local service delivery in driving the nation’s economic trajectory. The event was attended by World Bank Division Director for the Philippines Zafer Mustafaoğlu, World Bank Senior Country Economist Jaffar Al-Rikabi, and DTI Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco, among others. This year also marks the eight decades of partnership between the Philippines and the World Bank, a collaboration focused on reducing poverty, expanding job opportunities, and building a more inclusive economy for all Filipinos. ###

DILG backs DSWD’s Pag-Abot Program The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday expressed its full support for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pag-Abot Program during the ceremonial signing of its Implementing Rules and Regulations at the DSWD Central Office. “This interagency is committed to making sure that no one will be left behind. For those who fall in the cracks in society, those cracks will be spread open so that they will be picked up, brought back, and made a productive member of society,” DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said. Secretary Remulla serves as Vice Chairperson of the Interagency Committee, which is chaired by the DSWD. The Pag-Abot Program strengthens the whole- of-nation approach in delivering social protection services to disadvantaged individuals, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas where every Filipino is seen, supported, and included. This enhanced system ensures that even those in street situations receive the assistance needed to rebuild their lives. Institutionalized through Executive Order No. 52 series of 2024, the Pag-Abot Program establishes a unified delivery of social services for children, individuals, and families in street situations. As Vice Chairperson of the Interagency Committee, the DILG mobilizes local government units and leads policy coordination to ensure that the implementation of Pag-Abot reaches communities and families at the local level. According to the DSWD, 15,000 individuals in street situations have already been profiled in Metro Manila. Of these, 10,000 have been reached and 8,000 have been reintegrated into their communities. Remulla said the Pag- Abot Program is anchored on empathy, compassion, and purpose, designed to give people a fair chance to regain stability and dignity. He described the program as a critical tool to support those who have been left behind amid the nation’s reality of survival for the fittest and those who can best adapt. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian affirmed that with the IRR now signed, the program’s expansion will move forward in major areas such as Metro Cebu and Metro Davao to reach more beneficiaries and strengthen access to social protection. Also present during the signing ceremony were Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, Pag-Abot National Program Director and DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay, DILG Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Lopez De Leon, and other representatives from the Interagency Committee. ###

DILG: BARANGAY EXCELLENCE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday honored the 2025 Galing Pook Awardees in Malacañan Palace, affirming that real progress begins where service is felt the most. “Sa barangay nagsisimula ang serbisyong pinakamalapit sa tao. Dito unang nararamdaman ng bawat mamamayan ang malasakit ng pamahalaan,” the President said, adding that trust grows when governance is clear and accountable. “Kapag malinaw ang proseso ng pamahalaan, lumalakas ang tiwala ng ating mga kababayan; kung may pananagutan, tumataas ang respeto ng mamamayan.” The DILG stands firmly behind this call. As the institution tasked to enforce discipline, transparency, and order across all LGUs, the Department stresses that barangays must not only serve but deliver measurable results. Excellence at the frontline is not optional. This year’s awardees proved what strong grassroots leadership can achieve, from river rehabilitation in Legazpi City and BUSkwela in Cagayan de Oro, to the Street Camps of Quezon City, solar-power reforms and purok clearance in Santiago City, urban gardens in Mandaluyong, and justice, inclusion, and community programs across Dagupan, Tabaco, South Cotabato, and Makati City. Each winner received a Galing Pook Marker and Php 300,000 from the DILG Local Government Academy, setting a standard other barangays are expected to meet. “Kapag tinutugunan natin ang pangangailangan ng tao, nagdudulot ito ng magandang pagbabago,” the President said. The DILG echoes this message and urges barangays to reject complacency, strengthen systems, and uphold transparency and citizen participation in all programs. President Marcos closed with a reminder. “Huwag niyo pong kakalimutan na dapat na malaki ang pasasalamat natin sa [pagpapaalala na ang pagbabago] at pag-unlad ay nagsisimula sa pinakamaliit na hakbang at lumalakas kapag tayo ay sama-samang kumikilos.”  Other finalists include the Dunong Kabuhayan Center (Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City), 1Namayan Web and Mobile App (Brgy. Namayan, Mandaluyong), From Waste to Worth (Brgy. Pagas, Cabanatuan City), Kalingang Inan (Brgy. Panacan, Narra, Palawan), the Semirara Island Emergency Action Group (Brgy. Semirara, Caluya, Antique), and Project Kanlungan (Brgy. San Bartolome, Quezon City). The DILG remains committed to pushing this culture of disciplined governance and results-driven leadership to ensure every barangay becomes a true force for national development. ###