PH gov’t to revoke leaves of mayors and governors during calamities

It’s all common sense — local officials shouldn’t go missing during calamities when their people need them the most. But some Filipino government officials don’t seem to know that, so the national government has just said that they’re cracking their whip.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced today that they will revoke the overseas travel plans and leaves of absences of mayors and governors in the event of a calamity, whether natural or man-made.

In a phone interview with Coconuts Manila, DILG’s Local Government Operations Officer Brenda Fontamillas explained that mayors of highly urbanized cities are required to seek permission from DILG Secretary Eduardo Año if they want to travel overseas or go on leave.

Meanwhile, town mayors or mayors of smaller cities who go on leave or travel for not more than three months can seek permission from their provincial governors.

All governors, however, need to seek Año’s approval before they travel overseas or go on leave.

The DILG also said in its statement that under the Local Government Code, the governor and mayor are the ones responsible for overseeing emergency measures during and after a calamity.

But some mayors don’t seem to be aware of that. The DILG announced on Monday that they have filed cases at the Ombudsman against five mayors from northern Luzon who were said to be missing when typhoon Mangkhut struck their towns in September.

Those who were allegedly MIA are mayors Felix Joash Eduarte of Tayum, Abra;  Materno Luspian of Mankayan, Benguet; Mateo Chiyawan of Natonin, Mt. Province; Jose Limmayog of Sadanga, Mt. Province; and Brenda Belarmino-Ruma of Rizal, Cagayan.

Typhoon Mangkhut was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2018, reported CNN.

In a memorandum dated Jan. 4, Año also said that in the event of a disaster, a governor shall recall his approval of the travel plans and leaves of absences of other local officials such as mayors, some Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) members, and some department heads.

The same memo also says that in case there is a calamity, city or town mayors shall recall the travel plans and leaves of absences of vice mayors, some city or town councilors, and some department heads.