Republic of the Philippines

DILG: PH strengthens ASEAN ties ahead of 2026 Summit hosting The Philippines, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening partnerships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community as it prepares to host the ASEAN Summit in 2026. At the 3rd ASEAN Ambassadors Dialogue on Monday, the DILG emphasized its strong resolve to strengthen ties with the country’s ASEAN neighbors. “The DILG stands firm with ASEAN in advancing regional goals through sustained collaboration. We have worked alongside our ASEAN counterparts on local governance, disaster risk reduction, and regional security,” DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan said during the opening program. Iringan cited the Department’s contributions in the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC), knowledge sharing on decentralization and local governance, as well as its support to the ASEAN Mayors Forum and Smart Cities Network. The DILG also underscored that the Philippines’ ongoing efforts are aligned with ASEAN’s aspirations for people-centered and future-ready communities. “In the Philippines, under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., we are moving forward with Bagong Pilipinas—a government that is pro-people, transparent, and results-oriented. These are values we believe are shared across ASEAN,” DILG Atty. Jon Paulo Salvahan said. The Dialogue provided a platform for ASEAN leaders to engage in meaningful discussions on strategies to deepen relations among member-states. Also present were DILG Undersecretary Rolando Puno and Assistant Secretary Lilian De Leon.  Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac from the Philippine National Police and Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez from the Department of Foreign Affairs also joined in addressing key issues raised by ASEAN representatives. “We are not just neighbors; we are partners. And together, we can build a Southeast Asia that is secure, connected, and ready for the future,” Salvahan emphasized in closing. As the Philippines prepares to host the ASEAN Summit in 2026, the Dialogue marks a significant step in building momentum and fostering solidarity among member-states, ensuring that the region remains a champion of peace, progress and resilience. This effort reflects the spirit of One ASEAN, united in purpose and action for a stronger regional community. ###

DILG condemns violent agitators as 99% of protest actions remain peaceful Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said today that the September 21 protest actions were “generally peaceful,” even as he condemned the violent actions of a small group that attempted to sow disorder during demonstrations in Metro Manila. “Gusto kong ipaabot na 99% ng protest very peaceful at may karapatan silang magpahayag. I respect that, and even the President is indignant to the situation [violent actions],” he said in a media interview after visiting Mendiola, one of the protest sites. Secretary Remulla affirmed that government fully respects the constitutional right of Filipinos to stage peaceful assemblies, echoing the stand of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on upholding freedom of expression, provided it is exercised within the bounds of the law. At the same time, he stressed that law enforcement will not tolerate attempts to disrupt peace and public safety. He cited incidents in Mendiola where masked protesters hurled rocks and molotov cocktails at police officers, and near Ayala Bridge where a group tried to provoke authorities by throwing rocks and setting a truck on fire. “May 1% na nanggugulo. Hindi namin papayagan na masira ang pangalan ng protestang ito dahil sa kanila. May karapatan ang lahat na magprotesta, pero ang manggugulo hindi namin pwede payagan ‘yan,” Remulla emphasized. He added that “it came to a point na nagbabatuhan ng molotov at yung mga pulis natin umiiwas lang. May isang pulis na muntik tamaan. At that point, we had to push them back but still use maximum tolerance kahit pinagbabato na ang mga pulis.” According to reports, about 40 police officers were wounded while evading projectiles. Nineteen protesters, believed to be minors aged 15 to 17, were also apprehended. Police immediately coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure that proper protocols were followed in handling the minors. Despite the confrontation, the DILG chief assured the public that law enforcement will continue to observe maximum tolerance and respect the right to assem

WHEN CRISIS STRIKES, 911 ENSURES NO FILIPINO IS LEFT BEHIND The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shares stories from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that reveal the true power of the Unified 911 Emergency Hotline. These are not just calls logged. They are lives saved, families protected, and moments when government was present exactly when it was needed most. On an ordinary day in Tarlac, a sudden outburst of violence shattered the calm of a neighborhood. A man armed with a bladed weapon attacked, leaving two people bleeding and terrified. What followed, however, was a testament to how fast help can come. Within minutes of a 911 call, responders arrived. Ambulances carried the wounded to the hospital while police restrained the suspect before he could cause more harm. Relief returned to the neighborhood as people realized that help had come just when it mattered most. Inside a bus bound for Bohol, passengers were startled when a young woman attempted to end her life. Fear and confusion swept through the aisle, but quick-thinking commuters dialed 911. Rescue units rushed to the scene, administering first aid right inside the bus before rushing her to a nearby hospital. What could have ended in silence and grief became instead a story of survival, reminding everyone there that hope can still be found in the darkest moments. In Zamboanga del Sur, a domestic altercation turned violent and threatened the life of a woman in her own home. This time, however, the abuse did not remain behind closed doors. A single call to 911 brought police officers straight to her side. The suspect was arrested immediately, and the victim was placed under the care of the Women and Children Protection Desk. That moment became a reminder that protection is never out of reach and that no Filipino is ever truly alone in times of danger. These stories from across the country remind us that 911 is more than a number. It is a lifeline that upholds dignity, restores hope, and protects the vulnerable. Every call answered is a testament to the value of human life and the strength of community. As DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla emphasized, “We can count the number of calls that come in, but that is not the true measure of success. The real metric is simple: do our people feel safer? If they do, then we know we are doing our job.” This vision is fully aligned with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has consistently underscored that government services must be felt in every community and in every home. The Unified 911 system is one of the clearest expressions of this commitment, ensuring that help is available anytime, anywhere, for every Filipino. No one is left behind. From the young to the elderly, from urban centers to the most remote barangays, the Unified 911 system stands as proof that every Filipino matters and that help will always come. The DILG, together with the PNP, BFP, BJMP, LGUs, and partner agencies, stands committed to making sure that in every crisis, Filipinos are never left to face danger alone. Anuman ang krisis, sa isang tawag, darating ang tulong. 911. ###

DILG’s SAFB project expands to address evacuation center gaps in disaster-prone LGUs The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has expressed its full support for the expansion of the Support and Assistance to Participatory Budgeting (SAFPB) project, which now includes the construction of evacuation centers in local government units (LGUs) without permanent facilities. The move aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for more climate-resilient infrastructure, especially in vulnerable areas frequently affected by natural disasters. Originally focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) projects, the SAFPB initiative now extends to disaster-resilient and climate-adaptive infrastructure to better address the needs of communities at risk.  The project’s expanded scope also supports the implementation of Republic Act No. 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which requires the establishment of permanent evacuation centers in every city and municipality in the country. “The program’s recent expansion from a focus on WaSH projects to the inclusion of disaster-resilient and climate-adaptive infrastructure is a reflection of how responsive and adaptive we are at addressing evolving challenges on the ground,” said DILG Undersecretary Atty. Jon Paulo Salvahan during the recent launch of SAFPB for FY 2025. SAFPB, which started in 2024, promotes participatory governance, encouraging collaboration between local leaders and civil society organizations (CSOs) in identifying and implementing solutions to pressing community needs. For 2025, ₱233 million of the total ₱700 million SAFPB allocation has been earmarked for the construction of climate-smart evacuation centers in nine municipalities, each receiving ₱25.92 million. The beneficiaries are located in some of the country’s most disaster-prone provinces, as identified in the National Adaptation Plan 2023–2030. These include: Buguey, Cagayan; Macalelon, Quezon; Lagonoy, Camarines Sur; Borbon, Cebu; Balangiga, Eastern Samar; Leyte, Leyte; Tabontabon, Leyte; Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur; and Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur. The DILG trained local engineers on the preparation of detailed engineering designs (DEDs) that comply with national standards and promote structural resilience. All evacuation center projects are expected to be completed by December 31, 2026. The DILG will closely monitor implementation through its SubayBAYAN portal, alongside regular field inspections and third-party oversight involving non-governmental organizations and CSOs to ensure transparency and accountability. “The DILG will be subjecting these projects to monitoring and evaluation. It will be subjected to third-party monitoring. We will be engaging NGOs and CSOs to help us monitor the projects,” said DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan. As a key national agency tasked with strengthening local governance, the DILG reaffirms its commitment to supporting LGUs in building disaster-resilient infrastructure and improving community preparedness.  ###

DILG Starts Audit of Over 1,700 local peace and order councils In accordance with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to establish secure and peaceful communities through a whole-of-government approach, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has commenced the audit of 1,733 local peace and order councils (POCs)  to evaluate how well they fared in the peace and order campaign of their respective jurisdictions.   The audit covers POCs of 17 regions, 82 provinces, 149 cities , and 1,485 Municipal POCs. The objectives of the audit are to identify the innovations of POCs, and determine possible strategies for the improvement of their performance.   Based on Memorandum Circular 2025-091, POCs shall be assessed using two main pillars – functionality indicator (70%), to check their compliance with the functions and responsibilities  provided by the Omnibus Guidelines for POCs; and the  development indicator (30%) to  evaluate them based on their outcomes and impact on the peace and order and public safety situation in their locality.   POCs that have scored 85% and above  will be rated as high performing, 70-84% as moderate, while those who scored 69% and below will be tagged as low performing. POC Performance Audit results shall be utilized as one of the indicators of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) awards under the Safety, Peace, and Order Area. LGUs with high-performance ratings will be deemed eligible for SGLG. To standardize and streamline the management and assessment of documents, this year’s Audit shall utilize the full functionality of the POC Audit System.   Audit committees shall be formed at the provincial, regional, and national levels which are composed of representatives from the PNP, BFP, BJMP, Dangerous Drugs Board, Department of National Defense, and civil society organizations, among others.  The DILG has advised all Audit Committees to thoroughly examine and validate the submitted documents to ensure the quality, veracity, and consistency of the audit results.  An online orientation and pre-auditing phase commenced this September, while post-audit activities, including consolidation, and approval of official results by the National Audit Committee will be completed by November. A POC serves as the government’s mechanism for fostering stronger collaboration between local government units (LGUs), law enforcement agencies, and communities in addressing criminality, illegal drugs, insurgency, and violent extremism.. ###

DILG’s Unified 911 Achieves 94.42% Efficiency, Marking Major Milestone in Emergency Response Modernization The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the newly-launched Unified 911 system has set a groundbreaking standard for emergency response in the country, achieving 94.42% efficiency on its first day of operation on September 11, 2025. This major improvement marks a significant leap in modernizing the country’s emergency services, ensuring faster and more reliable assistance for those in urgent need of assistance.  The DILG said that on the first day of the Unified 911 rollout, the Emergency 911 National Call Center received 60,323 calls, of which 57,786 were successfully handled, resulting in a 94.42% efficiency rate. Only 3,537 calls were identified as test, abandoned, or prank calls.  The DILG pointed out that the notable improvement of 911’s efficiency rating is not due to a decrease in demand, but rather to a vastly improved response framework, as the call center has consistently handled around 61,000 calls per day.  The Department further stressed that the 94.42% efficiency on day one highlights how the new system is already making a measurable impact on the speed and accuracy of emergency responses. This significant improvement stands in stark contrast to previous years. In 2024, the call center managed just 48.33% of the 22.3 million calls received. By early 2025, upgrades to the system had increased the efficiency rate to 70.71%, which further improved to 94.42% on launch day.  This reflects the effectiveness of upgrades, demonstrating a sharp rise in both system capacity and operational coordination. Earlier, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla issued a stern warning  against prank calls to the newly rolled-out Unified 911 Emergency Hotline, saying that those who misuse the  system will face immediate consequences, including deprioritization of their future calls. “Kapag prank call ka, ma-archive na ang number mo. Last priority.  Kasi kailangan may disincentive yung mga prank callers. So, kung nanloko ka sa amin, di ka na makakatawag,” he said, appealing to the public to act responsibly and think twice before misusing the emergency system. To ensure that no genuine emergencies are missed, the DILG is implementing verification protocols, especially for dropped or unclear calls. These may include follow-ups by local police or barangay officials to check the situation on the ground. With Unified 911 now fully operational, the Philippines has taken a significant leap forward in creating a more responsive, reliable, and efficient emergency response system. This achievement is a critical step toward building a more digitally integrated public safety infrastructure and aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to delivering modern, efficient services to all Filipinos. ###

  DILG to Review Policies on LGU Travel Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced on Tuesday that the DILG will review the policies governing government-funded travel for local government officials, including those for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). In a media interview, Remulla suggested that it may be time to reassess the current policy, emphasizing that all government-funded travel should serve a legitimate purpose. “Maybe it’s time to review the policy to ensure that all travel, if government-funded, is legitimate and serves a specific purpose,” he said. His remarks followed controversy surrounding posts by Sangguniang Kabataan members from the City of Manila, who shared about their supposed “capacity development” and “international benchmarking” activities in Thailand, funded by SK funds. The posts sparked backlash from netizens, who criticized the trip as a mere junket. In response, Remulla revealed that the DILG plans to issue a memorandum circular to clarify rules surrounding the use of public funds for travel. “We need to carefully examine the language, particularly when it comes to where the funds should or should not come from,” he said. “We also need to specify the clearances required for such trips.” Reflecting on his own experience as governor of Cavite, Remulla shared that he never allowed such overseas training programs. “Training and capacity-building abroad, I don’t think that’s necessary,” he explained. “What surprised me most was the way they openly flaunted their good time, posting about it repeatedly,” Remulla continued. “It’s part of a larger culture of trying to impress others, and that’s ultimately what led to all of this.” ###

DILG to Launch Document Management System for LGUs In support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for digitalization, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will roll out in 2026 a Document Management System for Local Government Units (DMS4LGUs). This new platform will make local governance faster, more efficient, and more transparent. Anchored on Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act, the DMS4LGUs will simplify how LGUs handle records by digitizing and consolidating documents in one platform. This means faster processing of papers, fewer delays, and more reliable services for the public. The system will form part of the Cities and Municipalities Information Management System (CMIMS) under the Local Government Unit Support System (LGUSS). Speaking at the 2025 Ease of Doing Business Forum in General Santos City, DILG Region XII Regional Director Atty. Rochelle Mahinay-Sero, delivering the message of Secretary Jonvic Remulla, underscored the Department’s goal: “The DILG is committed to modernize governance and push LGUs to automate business permits, licensing, and frontline services.” With DMS4LGUs, the workload of local chief executives will be reduced, and the flow of documents within LGUs will be smoother. This will allow officials to focus more on delivering services that directly benefit their constituents. The DILG also highlighted the significant gains already made in LGU digitalization. Today, 99.67% of LGUs are compliant with the Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) standards. In addition, nearly 10,000 permits for telecommunications projects have been processed in 677 cities and municipalities, helping expand digital connectivity nationwide. To further accelerate digital transformation, the DILG, in partnership with the DICT, will capacitate 134 more LGUs on the use of the eLGU system until all local governments are fully automated. Other Ease of Doing Business initiatives featured at the forum include eGov PH, the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS), Paleng-QR for cashless payments, and the eLGU system. Through these efforts, the DILG is ensuring that LGUs are equipped with modern tools to cut red tape, eliminate inefficiencies, and provide faster, more transparent, and more responsive services to every Filipino.###

Remulla: PNP to deploy over 50K police officers for September 21 rally Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy 50,335 police officers to ensure the peaceful conduct of the rally on September 21.  In an interview with Karen Davilla at ANC Headstart on Tuesday morning, Remulla said deployed PNP personnel will handle various priorities, including police visibility, standby units, traffic assistance, checkpoints, and border control. “The PNP will make sure there is no trouble. The PNP will not suppress them. The PNP will not stop them in any way, and we will make sure it is just a peaceful rally,” Remulla said. This, as thousands of protesters are expected to join two separate rallies in EDSA and Luneta on Sunday, slamming the corruption of the flood control projects.  Remulla assured the public and the protest groups that Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is supportive of the movement.  The conduct of rallies is allowed as long as the necessary permits have been secured. “There is no opposition on the Palace’s part to granting any permits. In fact, they will assist them,” said Remulla. “The President is one with them, and it is a different case that happened in the other countries,” he added. While the DILG Chief acknowledged that citizens should hold all government officials and personnel accountable, especially those involved in anomalies on flood control projects, he urged them to express their anger and disappointment through peaceful means. “I hope half a million people will show up and show indignation against these people, I hope they will vent, and I hope that there is a release of their anger in a very peaceful way, of their disappointment in how the things have transpired,” Remulla said.###

Remulla: PNP to Provide Security Support in DPWH Flood-Control Project Inspections In support of government’s efforts to ensure transparency, safety, and accountability in infrastructure projects, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to provide security assistance during the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) ongoing inspections of major flood-control projects. “Sa security side lang kami. Wala kaming alam sa forensic infrastructure pero marami kasing threat sa mga tao, so kasama kami sa mga tumutulong,” he said in an interview with reporters. Remulla emphasized that while the PNP is not involved in technical assessments, their presence is essential due to credible security threats surrounding the inspection activities. “Yes, andoon sila. Round-the-clock kasi delikado talaga buhay nila (DPWH personnel) roon eh,” he said. The DILG remains committed to working closely with the DPWH and other relevant agencies in the inspection of vital infrastructure projects, particularly those aimed at mitigating flood risks across the country. ###