Indigenous persons (IPs) should be represented in local legislative councils and policy-making bodies, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo asked all local government executives in the country on Tuesday. In a memorandum circular, Robredo reminded provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, and other local government officials of Republic Act 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997, which calls for the mandatory representation of IPs. Section 16 of RA 8371 gives IPs the right to participate voluntarily, through procedures which they should determine, at all levels of decision-making that may affect their rights, lives and destinies. The…

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo on Friday called on city and municipal mayors nationwide to identify lands in their respective localities that could be used for socialized housing projects. Robredo said identifying possible sites for housing projects had to start with conducting inventory of lands and pinpointing the actual number of project beneficiaries. “This is to further implement the government’s housing program at the local level,” he said. In a memorandum circular, Robredo said the lands to be covered by the inventory would include unregistered or abandoned lands, and residential and government lands, whether owned by the…

QUEZON CITY—Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo on Thursday urged all provincial governors and city mayors to designate a local economic and investment promotion officer in their respective provinces and cities to promote growth of local economy. In a directive, Robredo said the designated local investment officer should facilitate and coordinate economic programs in provinces and cities. “This is part of our efforts to encourage local governments to play active roles in attracting more investments by providing an environment that will generate and enhance economic activities in their area,” he said. Specifically, the directive requires investment officers to…

 Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo on Tuesday gave stern warning to local government officials all over the country on the presence of persons posing as government contractors but are actually swindlers. “We would like to tell local government officials that we are not in any way negotiating with these persons who claim that they have strong influence and connections with government agencies and can facilitate the immediate approval of any contract,” said Robredo. The warning came after Operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) nabbed in an entrapment operation Friday morning two women posing as…

Human trafficking, illegal drugs and terrorism are high on the agenda of senior officials from ten ASEAN member countries during the 10th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) which formally started today at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.  Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, who delivered the keynote address during the meeting, said there is a need to strengthen regional cooperation and commitment against these crimes and the other transnational crimes identified in the ASEAN Declaration on Transnational Crime in 1997 namely, piracy on the high seas, cyber crimes, intellectual property, money laundering  and…

The Philippines shall host this year’s 10th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) to be attended by senior officials from ten ASEAN member-countries in Makati City from October 25 to 29, 2010.  Expected to attend the high-level ASEAN meet are senior officials from ASEAN member states (AMS) namely, Brunei , Cambodia , Indonesia , Lao PDR, Malaysia , Myanmar , Singapore , Philippines , Thailand and Vietnam ; other country delegates of the AMS; representatives from dialogue partner countries and other international organizations.  Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, who shall deliver the keynote speech during…

Unceasing in its efforts to accelerate growth and development at the local level, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to unveil a new program which seeks to recognize good governance performance and encourage the alignment of local development initiatives with the development thrusts of the Aquino administration. Dubbed the Performance Challenge Fund or PCF, the program aims to stimulate local government units (LGUs) to put premium on performance in order to avail themselves of the financial package they could use to jumpstart and sustain local economic development initiatives for the reduction or eradication of poverty…

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) proposes the pooling of the national calamity fund with the local calamity fund of local government units (LGUs) to ensure that resources would be readily available for emergency response as well as rehabilitation and reconstruction in the event of a disaster. DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo said the proposed project dubbed as “Paluwagan para sa Paghahanda sa Kalamidad” is similar to the concept of saving for a “paluwagan,” an agreement in which members pool money at a scheduled time and take turns in receiving the pooled amount. “This concept of disaster risk pooling has…

The countdown to two decades of local autonomy in the country has begun as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the support of the different local government leagues and other stakeholders has launched a year-long series of activities to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the Local Government Code. The Local Government Code, which was enacted into law in 1991, set into motion the decentralization of power and authority to local governments and gave them more freedom to manage their own localities. DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said this year’s celebration entitled, “Celebrating 20 Years of Local…

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Philippine National Police has taken concrete steps to help solve the killings of Korean nationals, including a religious Korean leader two months ago, and other related security concerns. DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said Thursday that he has submitted to President Benigno S. Aquino III a report coursed through him by PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo on the decisive actions taken by the DILG-PNP to address the security concerns raised by Korean Ambassador Hye Min Lee regarding the safety of Korean nationals in the country, particularly the killing…