INSIGHTS 2nd Quarter 2020 Issue

Victorious R-III, “BEST OFFICE”
in the 2018 Performance Scorecard

DILG Region III, under REGION III Congratulations!
the leadership of Regional Director
Julie J. Daquioag, is yet again victorious as the JULIE J. DAQUIOAG, Ph.D., CESO III DILG Region III for being hailed as the
year 2018 proved to be another eventful and Regional Director
successful year for the whole DILG Central “BEST OFFICE”
Luzon. It can be recalled that the Region was to provide optimal public
ranked as “Better Office” in 2017. R-3 is now service to reach new in the FY 2018 Performance Based Bonus
recognized as “BEST OFFICE” in the recently heights of exemplary Assessment Rating
concluded F .Y. 2018 PBB rating and ranking of performance.
delivery units in the DILG-LG Sector. This success This is yet again one of the many proud
is a manifestation that with genuine passion for AO V Crystal Joy C. Pineda moments I share with you as we savor another
public service and love for work, no obstacle is significant milestone. We set the pace in 2017
insurmountable – an achievement well- when we successfully scored “BETTER” in terms
deserved by the hardworking men and women of service and performance as reflected in the
of this Region. Department’s scorecards. With all our plans to
even more excel and our tenacity to nourish a
In her message to DILG Central Luzon
officials and personnel, RD Daquioag expressed culture of performance excellence, we have
her appreciation and gratitude for this gathered our strengths and persevered toward
significant milestone. She emphasized that this realizing our goals. In fruition, 2018 has been
feat is an impetus to strive even more by
dreaming big and aiming higher. remarkable, filling our cup with pride for
gaining the “BEST Office”. Another surge
Congratulations, Central Luzon DILG brought about by hardwork and dedication.
Team for every inch of accomplishment With all its glory and with grateful hearts, we
delivered in 2018 and for continuing the fervor embrace this feat and continue to dream big

and aim higher.

Proud to serve alongside all the Bright,
Brave-hearted and Beautiful people of DILG
Central Luzon, our development partners,

clients and various stakeholders.

You’ve worked so hard for this.
Congratulations!!!

Contact Tracing Teams Oriented Local DRRM Officers, and
through DILG R-III’s Initiatives other members of the CTT.

DILG Region III through the Monitoring she encouraged everyone to work Ms. Rosana Rosell
and Evaluation Division (MED) and the hand-in-hand in preventing further transmis- from DOH-RESU presented
Department of Health - Regional Epidemiology sion of COVID-19. “We have to eliminate the the roles and functions of the
Surveillance Unit (DOH-RESU) conducted the unknown and unseen enemy that is CTT members as well as the
Conference on the Orientation of Contact Coronavirus,” she said. guidelines provided by DOH in
Tracing Teams (CTTs) via Zoom on April 24, contact tracing.
2020. There were 377 participants in the
teleconference including the DILG Region III Contact Tracing is
DILG R-III Regional Director personnel from the regional office to the field defined in Public Health,
Julie J. Daquioag welcomed the participants as offices, PNP personnel, Local Health Officers, accordingly, as the process of

to page 8

INSIGHTS

Table of Contents Bulacan State University now 5
serves as Isolation Facility 6
SILG Año together with IATF-MEID 2
and NTF leads send-off ceremony Amidst the pandemic, Team 6
for OFW Seafarers 2 Pampanga perseveres 7
2 to #WorkAsOne
R-III PDMU Team prepares 3 8
for the new normal Walkthrough on the new 9
3 LSI Monitoring Tool
DAP acknowledges DILG-III’s 5S 9
Good Housekeeping Initiatives 4 Province of Zambales calls out 10
4 for Stakeholders’ harmonized 11
DILG R-III supports DepEd’s efforts on Peace and Order 12
Brigada Eskwela and Oplan
Balik Eskwela DILG Olongapo orients Brgy.
Secretaries on Google Apps
DILG R-III holds Online Coaching
on the Document Management DILG Aurora spearheads Series
System of Orientations on the Management
of the Dead
DILG Tarlac Heals with Partner
Agencies DILG Angeles advocates
Programs to Angeleños
DILG R-III employees resort to
Webinars, Online Courses for Status of Locally Funded Projects
Professional Development
Legal Corner

DILG inspects Bataan SAP 5 COVID-19 Response Assistance
Distribution

INSIGHTS

Editorial Board

JULIE J. DAQUIOAG, Ph.D., CESO III
Regional Director

JAY E. TIMBREZA, CESO V
Assistant Regional Director

ANITA W. ADRIANO, CPA LERRIE S. HERNANDEZ, EnP. ENER P. CAMBRONERO, CESE

Chief, Finance and Administrative Division Chief, Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief, Capability Development Division

PROVINCIAL AND CITY DIRECTORS

REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE DESIGNATED PROVINCIAL/ HUC INFORMATION
OFFICERS

INSIGHTS Vol. 23 No. 2 / APR - JUNE 2020

SILG Año together with IATF-MEID and NTF
leads send-off ceremony for OFW Seafarers

Secretary of the Interior and

Local Government Eduardo M. Año to-

gether with the members of the Inter-

Agency Task Force for the Management

of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-

MEID) and the National Task Force (NTF)

led the send-off ceremony for repatriat-

ed overseas Filipino workers

(OFWs) on June 9, 2020 at Quest Hotel,

Clark, Pampanga.

The OFWs who are seafarers Returning OFWs from Barbados while waiting for their send-off at Quest Hotel,
were stranded for months in Barbados Clark, Pampanga.
and landed in the country on June 6,

2020. They were sent off after testing

R-III PDMU Team preparesnegative in COVID-19. The repatriates

were quarantined for three days in the for the new normal
hotel as they were waiting for their test

results. The Overseas Workers Welfare

Administration (OWWA) will facilitate the

travel of the repatriates back to their

hometowns.

Likewise, a Press Conference

was held after the ceremony. In the con-

duct of both activities, health measures

were properly observed.

PDO I Jaynie P. Pajarillaga Considering the number of Locally development trainings, financial status,

DAP -Funded Projects (LFPs) being implemented and issues encountered in the
acknowledges by the Department, it is deemed necessary implementation of LFPs.
for the Regional and Provincial LFP Focal
In his message, LG-CDD Chief

DILG-III’s 5S Good Teams to plan and strategize in preparation Ener P. Cambronero highlighted the
for the new normal. importance of strengthening the
coordination of DILG with the local
Housekeeping During the virtual meeting functionaries to ensure the efficient
monitoring and implementation of LFPs.
Initiatives conducted by the Office of Project
Development Services (OPDS) on June 4,

The Development Academy of the 2020, Regional and Provincial Focal Teams He acknowledged the efforts of everyone
Philippines (DAP) has recently were given the opportunity to hear the and thanked the OPDS for their
acknowledged the various efforts of DILG updates and raise their queries directly to continuous support.

Region III in implementing and the OPDS focal persons relative to the Indeed, without ignoring the

advocating 5S Good Housekeeping implementation of LFPs. realities the whole world is currently

practices at the Regional and Provincial/ Among the topics discussed were facing, the DILG Region III LFP Team

HUC Offices. the status of projects under Assistance to remains committed to give their utmost

With DILG R-III among the Municipalities (AM) and SALINTUBIG dedication for the goals and objectives of

selected agency beneficiaries of DAP’s Programs, F.Y. 2020 Policy Guidelines, the Department.

Transforming Public Service Delivery projected indorsements, capacity

through 5S Program, DAP will include the

5S activities of DILG Region III in some of ities were intensified in 2018, along with Shine, Standardize, Sustain. It is a system
their information, education and communi- the implementation of the Quality Manage- of efficiently and effectively organizing
cation (IEC) materials, as part of their ment System. spaces to create and maintain quality
awareness campaign. work through set of standards.
5S stands for the Japanese words
DILG Region III has been practicing Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke that AO IV Ivan Phillip B. Lagman
5S Good Housekeeping for years and activ- translates to English as Sort, Set in Order,
2

INSIGHTS

DILG R-III supports DepEd’s Brigada
Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela

Department of the Interior and Local that learning continues amid COVID-19 pandemic. DepEd focuses
Government - III Regional Director Julie J. Daquioag on the preparations and strengthening partnership engagements
assured the DILG’s support and assistance to the in the BE to comply with certain health standards and protocols.
Department of Education’s “Bayanihan Sa Paaralan”
during the 2020 Joint Brigada Eskwela (BE) & Oplan Balik Aside from the usual Balik Eskwela activities, this year’s
Eskwela (OBE) Regional Kick off Ceremonies. The virtual BE and OBE include the coordination of the School Heads to the
activity was aired live in the CLTV 36 Facebook page on Local Government Units, non-government organizations, and
June 3, 2020. volunteers to clean and disinfect the schools’ facilities and
premises. Thermal scanners, soap, alcohol, facemasks, and other
“Just like what we did in the Bayanihan to Heal supplies needed for teachers and parents to comply with the
as One Act, ganun din po ang gagawin natin sa minimum health standards shall be acquired through partnership
Bayanihan sa Paaralan,” RD Daquioag said in her engagements.
message of support. “Hinihikayat po namin ang mga
lokal na pamahalaan, ang mga lokal na opisyal lalo na Other agencies which also participated in the virtual
ang mga Mayor at Gobernador na tayo ay tulungan dahil kick-off are the Department of Health and Philippine Information
nasa kanilang mga kanayunan ang ating mga paaralan,” Agency.
she added.
PDO I Jaynie P. Pajarillaga
BE and OBE are annual activities of DepEd
conducted from June 1, 2020 to August 29, 2020. For this presented the Reports Generation and Dashboard facilities system
year, DepEd aims to promote convergence of efforts features on the different types of documents processed including
among government agencies and stakeholders to ensure the procedure on how to access it under the DILG intranet.

DILG R-III holds Afterwards, Network Administrator Mark Louie and
Online Coaching on Database Administrator Paul David facilitated the live
demonstration of the major features of the DMS specifically on
the Document Registering Documents/Document Registration into the system;
Management System Document Routing (internal and external) of received incoming
documents to concerned office; Releasing of outgoing documents
In view of DILG Circular 2019-06 re: Policies and that were taken appropriate action; Viewing Document Details,
Guidelines on the Use of Document Management System Updating Document Details and Document Tracking (Incoming,
(DMS) and draft DILG Circular on the use of the DMS at Outgoing, Pending, Completed, Processed, Closed and Confidential
the Regional and Field Offices, DILG Region III, thru the Documents).
Regional Information and Communication Technology
Unit (RICTU), conducted an on-line coaching on the The DMS is a web application system developed by Central
system on April 1, 2020 through the use of Zoom Office that aims to facilitate the storage, management, and
application platform. The activity was participated in by tracking of the electronic documents and electronic images of
the designated Records Officers of the three divisions paper based information throughout the Department.
(FAD, LG-CDD and LG-MED) including Office of the
Regional Director staff. ITO I Melerie Pineda

The main objectives of the activity were to orient
the participants with the needed knowledge, skills on
DMS and its administration and provide demonstration/
walkthrough on the use of the system in preparation for
its implementation at the Regional Office.

ITO I Melerie Pineda explained the overview,
objectives, process flow, user roles, types of documents
processed and main features of the system. She also

3

INSIGHTS Vol. 23 No. 2 / APR - JUNE 2020

DILG Tarlac Heals with DILG R-III
Partner Agencies employees

resort to
Webinars, Online

Courses for
Professional
Development

HEAL AS ONE. Governor Susan Yap presides over a meeting with the municipal mayors DILG Region III, through its
of Tarlac to discuss the guidelines in the implementation of the GCQ in the province. This Learning and Development Committee
is just one of the endeavors of the province in ensuring that all national policies are well encouraged its employees to attend
understood by the LCEs. relevant online seminars and trainings
and enroll to massive open online courses
The Department of the Interior Inter-agency Task Force for Emerging (MOOC) amid the pandemic.
and Local Government Tarlac Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Provincial Office, has adopted the Work In the absence of face-to-face
From Home Scheme as directed by The Department, as always, also learning and development activities from
Secretary Eduardo Año since the played an important role in reminding March 2020 onward, schedules of various
beginning of the Enhanced Community the local governments of their responsi- web conferences by different institutions
Quarantine in March. This, however, did bilities in combating the pandemic were provided to the personnel for their
not stop the agency from taking part in following the well-established protocols attendance.
the fight against COVID-19. of the Department of Health and other
agencies. It has continuously worked Among these were courses on
DILG, being the vice chairperson with different stakeholders to ensure Supervisory and Management, Contact
for disaster preparedness has played a that all efforts are harmonized and Tracing, Disaster Risk Reduction, Service
vital role in the government’s decision focused on containing the outbreak. Streamlining, New Normal, Filipino Sign
to extend the ECQ which was initially set Language for Persons with Disabilities,
to end on April 14. According to The DILG also heads the Administrative Management, Procure-
Secretary Año, the data coming from Management of Human Remains Team, ment and other programs related to
Local Health Offices and gathered by which is responsible for providing COVID-19. These were offered by the
DILG field officers were used to provide logistics and coordination in the DILG Central Office, Local Government
decision-makers a clear picture of the processing and transport of human Academy, Development Academy of
COVID-19 crisis in the local remains related to COVID-19. the Philippines, United Nations, De La
government units and has helped in Salle University and other professional
providing experts their much-needed DILG Tarlac further helped in public and private institutions.
information for their scientific models. monitoring the compliance of LGUs in
the implementation of the Social to page 8
DILG officers have been coordi- Amelioration Program (SAP) of the
nating with local chiefs of police and fire DSWD, DA, DOLE, OWWA, and other identifying the most qualified recipients
marshals in making sure that the LGUs concerned agencies. During the first of SAP by directing barangays to post
abide by the guidelines set forth by the month of implementation, the the master list of beneficiaries in their
Department advocated transparency in barangay halls.

Currently, the Department has
been tasked to man the OFW desks in
every LGU to aid the OWWA and
repatriates for their unhampered move-
ment after their mandatory 14-day
quarantine facilitated by the Bureau of
Quarantine.

LGOO VI Bryan Rivera

4

INSIGHTS

DILG inspects Bulacan State University
now serves as Isolation
Bataan SAP Facility
Distribution

DILG Office of Barangay Affairs and the DILG Bulacan led by PD Darwin David inspects
Department of Social Welfare and Development Provincial Director Darwin David the isolation facility to
(DSWD) conducted an on-site Social together with LGOO VII check its compliance with
Amelioration Program (SAP) Pay-Out Monitoring Jose Algy Canlas had an ocular inspec- standard health
at Brgy. Tenejero, Balanga City, Bataan on May 5, tion on the isolation facility located at protocols
2020. the College of Social Science and
Criminology building of the Bulacan of Bulacan-Governance Center.
Said monitoring was done for the team to State University (BSU)-Main Campus. The facility was also
personally witness the barangay’s processes from
the selection of its beneficiaries to its actual This is one of the four inspected by the officers of the
distribution, and to validate if guidelines and designated isolation facilities in the Department of Health Office of
protocols were followed properly. province. The other facilities are the the province together with Dr.
newly constructed extension Protacio Bajao and other staff
In a special mass gathering like this, building of the Bulacan Medical from the Provincial Government
strategies on how the barangays handle Center, MAB building in Barangay San of Bulacan.
minimum health standards such as social Pablo, and the Provincial Government
distancing are being carefully observed. It was observed that the
facility is adjacent to the Bulacan
Tenejero, Balanga City which is being Medical Center which makes it
headed by Punong Barangay Evelyn Yuzon, has a easier for health workers to
total of 1,139 households qualified to receive transfer patients for the quaran-
SAP pay-outs. tine procedure. Likewise, the
buildings have separate bath-
The SAP monitoring team was composed rooms for quarantine hygiene
of Assistant Bureau Director Jam Banzon of requirements; rooms are well
DSWD-Disaster Response Management Bureau ventilated; and the area is safe
(DRMB), SWD R3 Assistant Regional Director for with security guards around.
Operations Lalaine De Leon, other officers from Furthermore, the Bulacan State
DWSD, and Liz Beth Ann Samaniego of CSWDO - University isolation facility can
Balanga City. accommodate up to 100 patients.

During the monitoring, the team was also Thus, on May 4, 2020,
joined by Erci Chico of the Office of the Barangay DILG Bulacan certified the facility
Affairs and Mario Dizon of DILG Bataan Provincial suitable to be used as Temporary
Office. Treatment and Monitoring
facility for mild cases of suspect
and probable COVID-19 cases and
Quarantine Facility for Health
Workers and Persons under
Monitoring.

SAP beneficiaries gather at the barangay covered court, practicing social distancing while waiting for
their names to be called

5

INSIGHTS Vol. 23 No. 2 / APR - JUNE 2020

Amidst the pandemic, Team Pampanga
perseveres to #WorkAsOne

The pandemic crisis brought educating, informing, and assisting referral from regional office, and from
about by COVID-19 has gravely affected citizens in their various concerns, walk-in and phone-in clients. Referrals
everyone including private and public queries, and complaints. from the Emergency Operations Center
organizations. But despite the (EOC) totaled to 407 referrals.
challenges posed by the situation, DILG To date, nearly 5,000 individual
Pampanga has remained unshakable in concerns from email, Facebook page In her message to the team, PD
its commitment to deliver unhampered messages, and official referral from Myrvi Apostol-Fabia urged the field
public service as it adapts and higher offices were processed. Concerns officers and PO personnel to remain
transitions to the “new normal” work on checkpoint protocols, relief steadfast and continue to work as one
set-up. assistance, implementation of the social especially since the country is counting
amelioration program, complaints on on the Department during this difficult
With determination and grit, the alleged violation of protocols and time. She also expressed her gratitude
team sought alternative ways to work alleged abuse of officials, among others to the contribution of each one and
around limitations and continue being a were processed and addressed stressed that the Provincial Office’s
“matino, mahusay, at maaasahang accordingly. accomplishment for the second quarter
kawani ng gobyerno.” would have not been possible without
To date, the Provincial Office everyone’s help and cooperation.
Hands-On Assistance and Guidance to received 3,964 messages from its official
LGUs FB Page which were promptly answered, Even in times of crisis, the DILG
processed, and referred to concerned Pampanga team strives to maintain its
To ensure that all LGUs in other government agencies and engagement with local government
Pampanga are properly guided with the stakeholders. units towards the recovery and further
issuances and guidelines from the progress of the Province of Pampanga.
national government, the conduct of Meanwhile, the legal unit
online provincial team conference is processed 412 concerns from 8888, LGOO VI Mark Jason A. Veran
crucial. For the second quarter, a total Presidential Action Complaints Center,
of eleven (11) online conferences were
held, and four (4) provincial-led urgent Walkthrough on the New
executive meetings relative to COVID-19 LSI Monitoring Tool
crisis management were attended.
More than sixty (60) local meetings and The DILG Nueva Ecija The activity was held to
conferences were also participated by walkthrough the DILG Field Officers
DILG field officers. Provincial Office headed by PD about the features of the New LSI
Monitoring Tool and orient them
Eighteen localized guidelines Renato G. Bernardino facilitated about their duties and functions in
were likewise issued by the provincial the monitoring of LSIs using the
office to provide clear, simple but the conduct of Orientation on the said tool.
practical and more applicable measures
to local government units down to the Newly Created Google Spreadsheet to page 7
barangay level in complying with various
national issuances and guidelines. for Locally Stranded Individuals
Corollary hereto, the social amelioration
program (SAP) was implemented (LSIs) through Video
successfully making Pampanga one of
the first few provinces to complete the Teleconference on June 19, 2020.
pay-out to beneficiaries on time.

Almost 5,000 concerns from citizens
assisted

To mitigate the risks and effects
of the virus, DILG Pampanga stepped up
to the job and helped significantly in

6

INSIGHTS

Province of Zambales calls out for Stakeholders’
harmonized efforts on Peace and Order

(left photo) DILG Zam-
bales Provincial Director
Armi Bactad facilitates
the reading of draft PPOC
Resolution on the confir-
mation of three (3) Civil
Society Organizations
(CSOs) as members of
PPOC; (right photo)
Governor Hermogenes E.
Ebdane, Jr. encourages
everyone to participate
in the endeavors of the
National Government to
alleviate poverty and
other causes of armed
conflicts

Walkthrough …. A Joint Provincial Peace and strategic and systematic interventions to
from page 6 Order Council (PPOC) - Provincial Anti- support the National Government in its
Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) and efforts to maintain peace and order and
It was participated in by all Provincial Task Force to End Local Com- safety despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
of the Local Government munist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC)
Operations Officers assigned in Meeting was presided over by Governor The activity, in coordination with
the Cities and Municipalities of Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. on June 24, DILG Zambales headed by PD
the Province and other DILG NE 2020 at Balin Sambali, Iba, Zambales. Armi V. Bactad, was attended by PPOC and
Provincial Office personnel. Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) PADAC Members, PTF-ELCAC Members,
were harmonized to come up with DILG Zambales Team and other local
LGOO II Vivorey S. Lapitan, functionaries.
Provincial Focal Person for the With this new monitoring
Management of LSIs, served as tool, the process of endorsement Representatives from the 3rd
the resource person during the of outgoing LSI from their LGU Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the
orientation. He presented the origin to receiving LGUs will be Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
features of the new monitoring faster and well-coordinated and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
tool and discussed the encoding the monitoring of incoming LSIs (PDEA) and Zambales Police Provincial
of right data and the frequency will be easier. Office (ZPPO) presented their reports on
of the submission. the current situation of Zambales focusing
By: DILG Nueva Ecija on the threats of Terrorism, Insurgency,
Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict,
Criminality, and Illegal Drugs. Accomplish-
ment Report and Ways Forward on the
War on Drugs in Zambales were also
presented on the said activity.

In addition, three (3) Sangguniang
Panlalawigan (SP)-Accredited Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) were confirmed as
members of the PPOC as PPOC Resolution
No. 1, series of 2020 was approved.

The activity also served as a
venue for consultation of the possible poli-
cies, strategies and approaches to respond
to safety demands of the forthcoming
“new normal”.

By: LGOOs II Paulin Johanne L. Reyes
and Rose Ann D. Agostosa

7

INSIGHTS Vol. 23 No. 2 / APR - JUNE 2020

DILG R-III Employees…. DILG Olongapo orients
from page 4 Brgy. Secretaries on
Google Apps

DILG R-III staff attending the online
course on Filipino sign language by DLSU

Further, with the work-from- The Department of the Interior Computing which includes creation of
home arrangement of employees, and Local Government-Olongapo City Google Account, usage and benefits of
DILG Region III motivated them to conducted Orientation on Using Google Google Drive, creation of Google docu-
take free online courses offered by Online Applications on June 22 via ments and uploading of files to the
MOOC-providers. These MOOC are Google Meet as one of its initiatives to cloud. Afterwards he discussed manage-
easily accessible via computers and level-up local governance. ment and updating of Online Database
smartphones and contain a variety System which can be used for submis-
of courses offered by esteemed As the first online orientation sion and filing of barangay reports.
international academic institutions. with the barangay secretaries of Olon-
gapo, DILG City Director Amada T. The online orientation aims to
AO IV Ivan Phillip B. Lagman Dumagat, during her message, encour- equip barangay officials, especially the
aged the participants to continuously barangay secretaries, with basic
“Contact Tracing Teams…. upscale barangay governance and use knowledge on Gmail, Google Drive and
from page 1 online platforms for meetings and trans- Google Sheets to enable online re-
actions. porting and faster collection of needed
identification of persons who may data from the barangays.
have come into contact with an LGOO V Fernando M. Erese, Jr.
infected person and subsequent gave a presentation on Google Cloud 8
collection of further information about
these contacts.

Generally, the goal of contact
tracing is to interrupt the ongoing
transmission by alerting the communi-
ty and offering diagnosis to reduce
infection among the population while
concomitantly, maintain the
confidentiality and risk of stigma,
discrimination, or abuse as result of
this process that may discourage
individual to seek medical treatment.

LG-MED Chief Lerrie Hernandez
expressed her thanks to the
participants present in the orientation
and emphasized the roles of NGAs and
LGUs that will contribute to the
success of the process.

PDO I Jaynie P. Pajarillaga

INSIGHTS

DILG Aurora spearheads on the protocols for the management of the
Series of Orientations on the dead including the proper donning and
doffing of PPEs. This was facilitated by Bal-
Management of the Dead er MDRRMO Gabriel J. LLave.

DILG Aurora PD Ofelio A. Tactac, Jr. welcomes During the second activity, DILG
the participants in the Orientation on the Aurora Provincial Director Atty. Ofelio A.
MDM protocol Tactac, Jr. discussed Memorandum Circular
No. 2020-063, entitled, Interim Guidelines
Following the convening of the Provincial Office on May 08 and June 03, on the Management of Human Remains for
Provincial Council for the Management of the 2020, respectively. Patient Under Investigation (PUI) and
Dead on March 31 2020 where MDM Confirmed Corona Virus Disease 2019
protocols were formulated, DILG Aurora Initiated by DILG Aurora together with (COVID-19) Cases. This and other existing
conducted series of Orientations on the the PG Aurora COVID Task Force, the first applicable laws, regulations and protocols
Procedure on the Management of Human activity was participated in by the members of were used as basis for the Provincial MDM
Remains for Patient Under Investigation (PUI) LGU Emergency Operation Centers and LGU formulated procedures which was also
and confirmed COVID-19 Cases at the Aurora partnered funeral parlors (FPs). Its objective downloaded to component municipalities
Emergency Operations Center and the DILG was to educate uniformed members of the for adoption.
task force and personnel of funeral services
PD Tactac in his discussion under-
DILG Angeles advocates scored the need for funeral parlors to strict-
ly comply with health and safety protocols
Programs to Angeleños in handling the remains of COVID positive or
PUI cases. The proper handling of remains
(from left) LGOO V Romer Enaje, Deng Pangilinan of the program Disiplina is a safety issue which is joint responsibility
and Rudy Simeon during the live interview Muna. The program aims to shared by the LGUs, health officials, police,
activate the real concept of funeral services and the community.
governance where the “Every local government unit (LGU) shall
citizenry is aware of their exercise its powers which are essential for
roles and responsibilities the promotion of the general welfare.
and are practicing active Within their respective territorial
citizen participation in jurisdiction, every LGU shall ensure, support
nation building especially and promote the health and safety of its
this time of crisis. inhabitants”, Atty. Tactac said.

DILG Angeles City ensures the regular Other topics discussed were the He also stated that the identity and
dissemination of information on the programs distribution of financial assistance under the other personal details of the deceased shall
being implemented by the Department. On Social Amelioration Program (SAP), waitlisted be respected at all times and remain confi-
June 18, 2020, LGOO V Romer T. Enaje was families, complaints related to SAP, and dential, unless otherwise provided by law.
one of the guests of the city’s regular program checkpoints. This is to protect the reputation of the
“Lingkod Bayan ni Mayor Carmelo “Pogi “ deceased and the family from unnecessary
Lazatin”. This is a public affairs program of The FB page which has more than inquiries from the public and spread of
the city government aired at the City 203,000 followers, making it reliable tool for baseless rumors which could exacerbate the
Information Office (CIO) Facebook Page every information dissemination, is being hosted by feeling of lost and sadness of the relatives.
Thursday 10:00 in the morning. Rudy Simeon and Deng Pangilinan.
Participants were also reminded
During the interview, LGOO V Enaje LGOO VI Luz M. Madlangbayan that LGUs is mandated to designate and
put emphasis on the concept and importance commission reputable funeral parlors and
crematoriums to handle the remains of
9 confirmed COVID-19 cases and PUIs, and
provide burial assistance for destitute rela-
tives and abandoned remains. Given such
protocols, LGUs shall penalize funeral
parlors that refuse to provide services for
COVID-19 or PUI remains by revoking their
licenses.

On the second phase of the DILG
initiated orientation, LGOO II Madam Cassey
Buenaventura and ADA VI Bon Paby Mingua
demonstrated the suggested sequence of
donning and doffing of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE).

ADA IV Gerald Philip DC. Esteves

INSIGHTS Vol. 23 No. 2 / APR - JUNE 2020

Status of Locally Funded Projects

For several years now, the Department has been Municipalities (ADM), Assistance to Municipalities (AM),
providing financial subsidy to Local Government Units Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces (CMGP), and
(LGUs) around the country. This assistance have reached SALINTUBIG Programs.
even far-flung communities and helped LGUs in the
implementation of locally-funded projects, among other Through the Regional and Provincial Focal Teams,
programs. Hence, the delivery of basic services was made the Department regularly provides technical assistance to
easier and other planned projects came into reality. LGUs from the preparation of necessary documents,
compliance with required standards, actual implementation
The Project Development and Management and monitoring of projects, and submission of completion
Section (PDMS) under the Local Government Capability reports.
Development Division is committed in ensuring that all
LFPs are well monitored and implemented. These As of May 30, 2020, the status of LFPs in Central
programs include the Assistance to Disadvantaged Luzon is as follows:

SALINTUBIG Program

Status F.Y. 2017 F.Y. 2018
Completed 6 6
0 0
Ongoing 0 0
Not Yet Started 0 3
6 9
Dropped
Total

ADM and AM Programs

Status F.Y. 2017 F.Y. 2018 F.Y. 2019
Completed 326 274 54
0 0 82
Ongoing 0 0 68
Not Yet Started 7 5 1
333 279 205
Dropped
Total

CMGP Program F.Y. 2017 F.Y. 2018 F.Y. 2019
29 21 1
Status 0 0 16
Completed 0 0 0
29 21 17
Ongoing
Not Yet Started

Total

Although the situation in the country may of everyone, Central Luzon shall surely remain
be difficult to handle at present, the Department as one of the best implementers of LFPs
remains dedicated in providing assistance needed by nationwide.
our stakeholders. Through the collaborative efforts

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INSIGHTS Vol. 23 No. 2 / APR - JUNE 2020

Legal Corner especially true in this case since Boracay's environmental disaster

(Recent Supreme Court Ruling) cannot be treated as a localized problem that can be resolved by the
concerned LGUs only. The magnitude and gravity of the problem
Atty. Chairmaine Jacqueline I. Paulino
require the intervention and assistance of different national
Issue: government agencies in coordination with the concerned LGUs.

Is there an intrusion into the autonomy of local government units in Ruling of the Supreme Court
the Boracay rehabilitation project?
Facts: The Supreme Court held: “It must be noted at the outset that
Claiming that Boracay has become a cesspool, President Duterte first made petitioners failed to present and establish the factual bases of their arguments
public his plan to shut it down during a business forum held in Davao because they went directly to this Court. In ruling on the substantive issues in
sometime February 2018. This was followed by several speeches and news this case, the Court is, thus, constrained to rely on, and uphold the factual bases,
releases stating that he would place Boracay under a state of calamity. True to which prompted the issuance of the challenged proclamation, as asserted by
his words, President Duterte ordered the shutting down of the island in a respondents. Besides, executive determinations, such as said factual bases, are
cabinet meeting held on April 4, 2018. generally final on this Court.”

On the other hand, Petitioners Mark Anthony V. Zabal and Thiting Estoso Furthermore, the Supreme Court opined that Proclamation No. 475 is
Jacosalem claim that ever since the news of Boracay's closure came about, a valid police power measure. To repeat, police power constitutes an implied
fewer tourists had been engaging the services of Zabal and Jacosalem such limitation to the Bill of Rights, and that even liberty itself, the greatest of all
that their earnings were barely enough to feed their families. rights, is subject to the far more overriding demands and requirements of the
greater number.
On May 18, 2018, petitioners filed a Supplemental Petition stating that the day
following the filing of their original petition or on April 26, 2018, President Discussion:
Duterte issued Proclamation No. 475 formally declaring a state of calamity in
Boracay and ordering its closure for six months from April 26, 2018 to October With the issue of intrusion on the local government units, the
25, 2018. The closure was implemented on even date. Thus, in addition to Supreme Court noted that the alleged intrusion of the President into
what they prayed for in their original petition, petitioners implore the Court to the autonomy of the LGUs concerned is likewise too trivial to merit
declare as unconstitutional Proclamation No. 475 insofar as it orders the consideration. Contrary to petitioners' argument, RA 10121 recognizes
closure of Boracay and ban of tourists and non-residents therefrom. and even puts a premium on the role of the LGUs in disaster risk
reduction and management as shown by the fact that a number of the
Petitioners’ Arguments legislative policies set out in the subject statute recognize and aim to
As to the substantive aspect, petitioners argue that Proclamation No. strengthen the powers decentralized to LGUs. This role is echoed in the
475 is an invalid exercise of legislative powers. They posit that its questioned proclamation.
issuance is in truth a law-making exercise since the proclamation
imposed a restriction on the right to travel and therefore substantially In addition, the Supreme Courted cited the case of
altered the relationship between the State and its people by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority v. Concerned Residents of
increasing the former's power over the latter. Manila Bay in coming up with the decision. Accordingly, the Supreme
Court explained that, the High Tribunal in the afore-mentioned case
In their Supplemental Petition, petitioners aver that Proclamation No. called out the concerned government agencies for their cavalier
475 unduly impinges upon the local autonomy of affected Local attitude towards solving environmental destruction despite hard
Government Units (LGUs) since it orders the said LGUs to implement evidence and clear signs of climate crisis. It equated the failure to put
the closure of Boracay and the ban of tourists and non-residents environmental protection on a plane of high national priority to the
therefrom. While petitioners acknowledge the President's power of then lacking level of bureaucratic efficiency and commitment.
supervision over LGUs, they nevertheless point out that he does not
wield the power of control over them. The Supreme Court further elucidated that there is an
obvious similarity in Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and in
Respondents’ Arguments the present case in that both involve the restoration of key areas in the
In sum, respondents emphasize that the issuance of Proclamation No. country which were once glowing with radiance and vitality but are
475 is within the ambit of the powers of the President, not contrary now in shambles due to abuses and exploitation. What sets these two
to the doctrine of separation of powers, and in accordance with the cases apart is that in the former, those mandated to act still needed to
mechanism laid out by the Constitution. be enjoined in order to act.

Respondents insist that Proclamation No. 475 does not unduly Therefore, the Court concluded: “xxx In order for the now
transgress upon the local autonomy of the LGUs concerned. Under RA staunch commitment to save the environment not to fade, it behooves
10121 (otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction upon the courts to be extra cautious in invalidating government
and Management Act of 2010), it is actually the Local Disaster Risk measures meant towards addressing environmental degradation.
Reduction Management Council concerned which, subject to several Absent any clear showing of constitutional infirmity, arbitrariness or
criteria, is tasked to take the lead in preparing for, responding to, and grave abuse of discretion, these measures must be upheld and even
recovering from the effects of any disaster when a state of calamity is lauded and promoted. After all, not much time is left for us to remedy
declared. In any case, the devolution of powers upon LGUs pursuant the present environmental situation.”
to the constitutional mandate of ensuring their autonomy does not
mean that the State can no longer interfere in their affairs. This is Conclusion

11 Intrusion of the local government’s autonomy in this
particular context is unfounded. A challenger, to support his or her
claim, must clearly substantiate the law and the facts applicable in
order for them to claim that there is, indeed, breach of the
constitutionally enshrined principle of local government autonomy.
The premature and uncorroborated conjectures of the petitioners
were inevitably struck down for their weightless allegation against
the disputed proclamation.

(The case of Zabal et.al. vs. Duterte et.al. G.R. No. 238467, February 12, 2019)

INSIGHTS Vol. 23 No. 2 / APR - JUNE 2020

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
REGION III

Diosdado Macapagal Government Center
Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga

tel. no. (045) 455-2405
email address: [email protected]

website: region3.dilg.gov.ph