Latest news with #DILG
GMA Network
12 hours ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
DILG urges forecast-based class suspensions to avoid last-minute announcements
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is instituting earlier, forecast-based class suspensions across local government units (LGUs) to spare families from the chaos of last-minute announcements during severe weather events. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said the shift is part of a 'whole-of-nation approach' aimed at streamlining disaster response, particularly in education. 'Dati ina-announce iyan alas-siyete ng umaga habang bumabagyo, minabuti na namin na alas-kuwatro ng hapon ang latest time ng announcement namin para iyong mga magulang hindi na nag-iisip, ang mga bata hindi na rin nag-iisip,' said Remulla during the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Discussions. (Before, suspensions were announced at 7 a.m. while it was already raining. Now we've made it 4 p.m. the latest time for announcements so that parents and children aren't left guessing.) Remulla emphasized the importance of proactive announcements guided by scientific data from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), noting that previous inconsistencies among cities had caused confusion. 'San Juan nagsu-suspend, Quezon City hindi pa; minsan Manila nagsu-suspend, Mandaluyong hindi pa. Ngayon, isa na lang ang titingnan nila para makita nila,' he said. (San Juan would suspend, but Quezon City has not. Sometimes Manila has suspended but Mandaluyong has not. Now, everyone will just look at one source.) The initiative is also leveraging digital tools. The DILG's social media presence, particularly on Facebook, has become a key information hub. What started with just 3,000 followers has now grown to 1.2 million — a testament, Remulla said, to the public's growing trust in centralized announcements. In his fourth SONA on Monday, the President underscored the importance of continuous improvement in disaster response, particularly in the face of climate-induced events such as floods and typhoons, a sentiment shared by Remulla. 'We are guided by science,' Remulla said, noting that weather models and hazard maps help the DILG anticipate where heavy rainfall is likely to strike. 'Alam na namin kung saan mangyayari.' (We already know where these will occur.) He added that better coordination and early information dissemination are essential pillars of disaster preparedness — one that local governments must fully commit to. — RF, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
12 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DILG urges LGUs to enforce discipline in waste management
From discarded refrigerators to old sofas, uncollected waste clogging waterways remains one of the biggest man-made drivers of flooding in urban areas, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging LGUs to take action. During the Post-SONA Discussions, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla emphasized the importance of stricter enforcement of waste management ordinances and fostering community discipline. He said that while tropical cyclones can be predicted, human behavior cannot. 'Makikita mo kasi na bawat LGU [local government unit] may hazard map iyan... Alam na namin kung saan puwedeng magka-landslide, kung saan babaha, lahat iyan predictable. Ang hindi predictable, human behavior,' Remulla said. (Every LGU has hazard maps. We already know where landslides or flooding may happen; that's all predictable. What's not predictable is human behavior.) He described how, during cleanup operations, clogged drainage systems yield not just plastic waste but also furniture, beds, and appliances. 'Iyong magdi-drain ka ng kanal at ng river, makukuha mo refrigerator, kama, furniture, kung anu-ano ang makikita mo sa ilalim. And that's all human behavior. And that is correctable if we enforce it properly,' Remulla said. (When you clean canals and rivers, you'll find refrigerators, beds, furniture—all sorts of things. That's human behavior, and it's correctable if we enforce the rules properly.) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address on Monday, called on Filipinos to take disaster preparedness seriously, from participating in drills to following evacuation orders and avoiding dumping trash in danger zones. 'Ang daan ng kalikasan, hindi basurahan iyan, para iyan sa kalikasan talaga,' Remulla said. (Natural waterways are not garbage dumps. They're part of nature and should be treated as such.) To address the issue systemically, the DILG is holding a summit with Metro Manila mayors on Friday to discuss how to institutionalize waste discipline among local communities, especially in flood-prone barangays. 'This is a governance issue as much as it is an environmental one,' Remulla said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
DILG Chief Remulla Backs Off Humor After Sara Duterte Slams ‘Unprofessional' Posts
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has dialed back his online banter, saying 'no jokes for now' after being publicly criticized by Vice President Sara Duterte for his casual social media messaging during government announcements. Duterte, in a chance interview during her stay in The Hague, said she was surprised by the DILG's tone on official platforms, stressing that 'government must be professional.' Her remarks were seen as a direct hit on Remulla's informal approach, especially after the department joked about being 'too full from a good meal' before releasing suspension updates. Responding on social media, Remulla took a more serious tone while announcing class and government work suspensions, stating in Filipino, 'I won't joke for now. Even the vice president criticized me.' He added, 'No more bargains. My list was right this time.' Despite earlier backlash from netizens and missed areas in suspension lists, Remulla defended his style, saying it worked during his time as Cavite governor. President Marcos Jr. also came to his defense, saying that what matters most is that the message reaches the people effectively.
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
Gov't work, classes on July 24, 2025 in Iloilo City suspended
Government work and classes in all levels in Iloilo City on Thursday, July 24, 2025 are ordered suspended. "Pursuant to the recommendation of the DILG, and in view of the advisory issued by DOST-PAGASA, the Office of Civil Defense, and the DSWD regarding Tropical Storm Emong, we are adhering to the directive to suspend classes in all levels in Iloilo City tomorrow, Thursday, July 24, 2025,' Mayor Raisa Treñas said in an announcement on July 23, 2025. While government work is suspended, offices that deliver essential and emergency services are excluded. 'All response units under the Iloilo City Government are on standby and fully activated. We have also raised the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center to Red Alert Status and continue to monitor updates to ensure the safety of our constituents. Please remain alert, secure your homes, and coordinate with your barangay officials for any assistance needed,' Treñas said in an advisory on Iloilo City Government, the local government unit's official social media page.
Filipino Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos Defends DILG Chief Remulla's Style Amid Criticism Over Casual ‘Walang Pasok' Posts
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. backed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla's informal approach to public announcements, saying his relaxed tone is simply a matter of communication style. Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. on July 23 after his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Marcos said what matters most is that Remulla delivers the message clearly, especially when it comes to announcements like class suspensions. The comments came after backlash erupted online over a July 22 Facebook post by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), announcing class cancellations in a humorous tone. The post began with 'Mga Abangers, sarap ng bogchi ko…' and appeared to be from Remulla himself. While some netizens, including celebrities Jake Ejercito and Jessy Mendiola, slammed the casual language as inappropriate for urgent updates, Marcos downplayed the criticism, saying everyone has their own way of communicating and Remulla gets the message across. The DILG has yet to officially address the public reaction. Remulla earlier confirmed that his office is authorized to announce class suspensions on behalf of the Cabinet and the Palace, as noted by the Presidential Communications Office.
