Following the ten-hour hostage crisis at the Quirino Grandstand on Monday, a Joint DILG-DOJ task force has been organized to investigate the gruesome incident that led to the killing of at least seven Hong Kong (Chinese) nationals and the former police officer who held them hostage inside a tourist bus.   Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the joint operative was ordered to establish the series of events during the incident and to determine if there were persons who could be held accountable.   "We want to know what really happened,…

With the reported rise in dengue fever cases in the country, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo on Wednesday called on all local chief executives to support the Department of Health (DOH) in its effort to contain the spread of the disease. Robredo said there was a need for coordinated efforts among all concerned national government agencies and local government units to lessen the prevalence of the mosquito-borne disease.   The National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health has reported a total of 40,648 dengue cases in different sentinel hospitals nationwide from January…

August 18, 2010.        Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday underscored the need to introduce reform measures to the existing Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) system amid the forthcoming synchronized barangay and SK elections scheduled October 25 this year. This came after Robredo sat down with officials of the SK Reform Coalition, who presented their proposed SK reforms.   SK Reform Coalition convenor Marlon Cornelio, its spokesperson John Tobit Cruz, and Student Council Alliance of the Philippines national executive board member Liza Dizon initiated the meeting. "We have agreed on the idea to…

Following President Noynoy Aquino's directive not to advertise his name or picture in government programs and projects, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has prohibited the use of names and images of officials in billboards and signages of DILG programs and projects, including those on fire trucks, ambulance vans and police vehicles .   DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said all heads of DILG operating units, including DILG-attached agencies should refrain from putting up billboards, signages and other similar information materials bearing the names and images of personalities, including him and the President, on DILG projects.  …

 The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today submitted a proposed bill to Malacanang, calling for the abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan and the subsequent election of a youth representative during the barangay elections on October 25, 2010. DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said that he is proposing for the repeal of Section 423 to 439 of the Local Government Code that will in effect totally abolish the Katipunan ng Kabataan or the SK., and the amendment of Section 387 (a) and 390 of the same Code to include a youth representative in the barangay who shall be…

August 12, 2010. With the need to institutionalize feedback mechanism, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo on Thursday directed the posting of every draft memorandum circular in the DILG website for a period of one week before its issuance. In his directive, Robredo urged provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, the ARMM governor and the DILG regional directors to send in their views, insights and comments through dilgmail@dilg.gov.ph. Robredo said he was encouraging local government and DILG officials to visit regularly the DILG website and send in appreciation or reservation on a directive. “In the…

August 6, 2010.         In a move to speed up the issuance of business permits and licenses in cities and municipalities of the country, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) today jointly launched a project that will streamline the processes in getting business permits and licenses from city and municipal governments. Dubbed as the Nationwide Streamlining of Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Reform Project for local government units (LGUs), the launching will be highlighted with the signing of a joint Memorandum Circular by DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo and…