QUEZON CITY -- The campaign against criminality and terrorism, COVID-19 response, and disaster preparedness will be the top priorities of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the remaining months of the Duterte Administration as it also commits to assist local government units (LGUs) in the transition to full devolution.
During the DILG’s first flag raising ceremony for the year, Secretary Eduardo M. Año said the next six months will be telling of how strongly the Department has been able to lay the cornerstones of peace and order, public safety, and good governance as a result of its various initiatives against illegal drugs, criminality, insurgency, and terrorism.
Año said the support of civil society organizations and the citizenry will be crucial in these efforts like in the past year as this led to more drug-cleared, communist-free, and safer barangays nationwide.
“Kaya naman kailangan nating ipagpatuloy at pagtibayin ang pundasyon ng mga programa para panatilihing ligtas at malaya ang mga komunidad na ito. Let us ensure public order will be maintained and guide our attached and partner agencies in sustaining the gains we have attained thus far,” he said.
At the same time, the DILG Chief assured that amid good local governance and peace and order initiatives of the Department, the battle against COVID-19 remains a top priority.
“With the Omicron variant lurking in our midst, we must be quicker, wiser and one step ahead of the virus. Marami na tayong sinakripisyo at natutunan mula sa mga karanasan natin noon kaya hindi dapat tayo magkumpiyansa,” he said.
He said the Department will continue to push local government units to ramp up their vaccination efforts to the rest of the population, including giving booster shots, and get ready for the vaccination of children aged 5-11 years old.
“Huwag nating sayangin ang mga pinaghirapan nating abutin sa nakaraang taon kaya bilisan pa natin ang pagbabakuna ng mga hindi pa nababakunahan at pagbibigay ng booster shots sa mga nabakunahan na,” he said.
With the recent devastation caused by Typhoon Odette, Año acknowledged that disasters pose a huge matter of concern as he assured that the DILG will continue to enhance the capacities of LGUs on disaster risk reduction and management.
He added that the Department will ensure that LGUs are abiding with the Operation Listo protocols before, during and after disasters to ensure zero casualties and minimize cost of damages during disasters.
“Indeed, it is time we put an end to these tragedies, sweep the rubble away, and rebuild a nation resilient enough to withstand disasters and crises with minimal casualties,” he said.
The DILG is the Vice-Chair for Disaster Preparedness of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
In line with the declared policy of the State on decentralization, Año said that the Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia petitions is another milestone in the continuing journey towards genuine local autonomy and empowerment. The ruling clarifies the just share of LGUs from all national taxes to ensure fiscal decentralization.
“With the SC’s Mandanas-Garcia ruling fully in effect now that 2022 has started, we must support, assist and guide our LGUs through the transition period. Together with our partner CSOs and the people, let us drill good governance into the heart of LGU actions and demand greater responsibility and accountability from local leaderships,” he said.
Under Executive Order (EO) No. 138, series of 2021, the DILG is mandated as the Co-Chairperson of the interagency and multi-sectoral Committee on Devolution (Com Dev) which oversees and monitors the implementation of administrative and fiscal decentralization goals of the EO, consistent with the Local Government Code or Republic Act No. 7160 and other pertinent laws. Com Dev also evaluates the status and monitors the implementation of the Devolution Transition Plans (DTPs) of LGUs.
No political partisanship
As election season rolls in, Año reminds the Department’s officials and personnel to be mindful of the relevant laws and guidelines about election campaigning.
“Responsibilidad nating manatiling non-partisan at propesyonal. We must not be swayed by politics nor by the temptations of vested interests. As public servants, our loyalty bows to the Filipino people alone and our service lives on regardless of who will assume the throne,” he said.
As the Department is in charge of LGU supervision, the DILG, he said, should always “promote good governance and guide the next elected officials to assume their responsibilities with credence, excellence, and integrity.” (DILG)
