DILG: LGUS MAY NOW USE 20% DEV’T FUND FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE

April 2, 2020

Local government units (LGUs) may now utilize its 20% development fund to
undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate measures to curtail and eliminate the
threat of COVID-19 in their areas, according to the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG).

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said that the DILG and the Department of Budget
and Management recently signed Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 series of 2020
that provides greater leeway in the utilization of the 20% development fund of LGUs
in view of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“With the signing of the JMC, we are giving LGUs more flexibility in using their
development fund for disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the
spread of coronavirus and to continue to provide basic services to their constituents
who are severely affected by the enhanced community quarantine,” he said.

According to Año, the Department has received reports from its different regional
and field units that several LGUs have expressed concerns on whether their quick
response funds can last until mid-April given the huge expenses they incur daily in
providing relief goods and other assistance to thousands of their affected
constituents.

“Batid namin na puwedeng kulangin ang pondo ng ating mga LGUs para bumili ng
mga kinakailangang medical equipment at sa pag-alalay sa ating mga kababayan na
lubos na naapektuhan ng krisis na ito. By allowing them to use their 20%
development fund, they will now have sufficient resources to procure the needed
food, medical supplies, and other help to their poor constituents,” says Año.

Under the JMC, LGUs may use their 20% development fund for the procurement of
personal protective equipment, hospital equipment and supplies, disinfectants,
sprayers, disinfection tents and other supplies or misting equipment, and COVID-19
testing kits, reagents and equipment.

Food, transportation, and accommodation expenses of medical personnel and other

LGU personnel directly involved in the implementation of COVID-19-related
initiatives as well as food assistance and relief goods for affected households may
also be charged to the 20% DF.

Expenses for the construction or rental of additional spaces to accommodate COVID-

19 PUIs and PUMs as well as for the operation of stand-alone or mobile testing
laboratories may also be funded out of the development fund.

In addition, the said fund may also be utilized for the acquisition of temporary
shelters for the homeless, personnel training in the conduct of COVID-19 testing and
other related trainings, and other necessary COVID-19 related programs, projects,
and activities (PPAs).

Disallowed expenses

Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan said that while the
JMC gives enough elbow room for LGUs in using the development fund, there are
also limitations.

"Hindi ito puwedeng gamitin para bumili ng furniture, fixture [s], appliances at motor
vehicles. Pero kung gagamitin po ninyo ang 20 percent development fund para
pambili ng food assistance para sa inyong constituents puwedeng-puwede po,” he
said.

Also disallowed are personal services expenditures, such as salaries, wages,

overtime pay and other personnel benefits; and administrative expenses such as
supplies, meetings, communication, water and electricity, petroleum products, other
general services.

Registration or participation fees in training, seminars, conferences or conventions

as well as travelling expenses cannot also be charged to the development fund.
DILG INATASAN ANG MGA BARANGAY OFFICIALS NA MAGPATUPAD NG
SAPAT NA HEALTH PROTOCOLS SA KANILANG PAMAYANAN

June 23, 2020

Bilang pagkilala sa mahalagang papel ng mga barangay sa pagpigil sa pagkalat ng

COVID-19, hinimok ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ang
mga barangay officials na maging maagap sa pagpapatupad ng mga minimum
health protocols sa kanilang mga pamayanan.

Ipinahayag ni DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año na dapat gumawa ng mga hakbang

ang mga barangay na magsusulong sa kalusugan at kaligtasan, kapayapaan at
kaayusan, at mapangalagaan ang katiwasayan at kaginhawahan ng kanilang
nasasakupan, lalo na sa panahon ng public health emergency. Ito raw ay ayon sa
Section 16 o General Welfare Clause ng Local Government Code.

“Sa lebel ng komunidad talaga ang tunay na laban sa COVID-19. Maaari lamang
silang gabayan ng pambansang pamahalaan ngunit sila ang nasa baba at malapit sa
mga tao. Kaya malaki ang responsibilidad ng mga barangay sa pagpapatupad
ng minimum health standards,” paliwanag ni Año.

Sa pamamagitan ng Office of Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin B. Diño,

naglabas ang DILG ng isang advisory na nagpapaalala sa mga punong barangay sa
buong bansa na bantayan ang pagsunod ng kanilang mga nasasakupan sa
pagsusuot ng face mask, sa physical distancing, sa madalas na paghuhugas ng
kamay at sa sapat na supply ng sanitizer, malinis na tubig at sabon. Inatasan rin ang
mga barangay na huwag payagan ang pagtitipon ng maraming tao o pagkain ng
sabay-sabay sa mga communal areas.

Maliban dito, hinimok ng DILG ang mga opisyal ng barangay na regular na linisin at
i-disinfect ang kanilang tanggapan.

Dapat din nilang bawasan ang mga dadalo sa kanilang mga meeting at session.
Pinapayuhan silang gumamit ng mga digital platforms tulad ng video conferencing
upang hindi magdikit-dikit ang kanilang mga tauhan.

Idiniin ni Año na dapat “magpakita ng mabuting halimbawa ang mga opisyal.

Sumunod muna sila bago magpasunod ng iba.”

Ipapasa ng mga DILG Regional Offices sa Central Office ang listahan ng mga opisyal
ng barangay na hindi susunod sa mga patakaran ukol sa COVID-19.
Kasama dito ang mahusay na pagtupad ng mga Barangay Health Emergency
Response Team (BHERT) at Barangay Public Safety Officers sa kanilang tungkulin
bilang mga kasapi ng Contact Tracing Team (CTT).

Ibinilin din sa mga barangay na walang bayad na hihingin kapalit ng barangay

certification na gagamitin sa anumang may kinalaman sa COVID-19.

Sinabi ni Año na ang lahat ay dapat sumunod sa batas at patuloy na magsasampa

ng kaso ang DILG laban sa mga lumalabag sa quarantine protocols. Noon lamang
June 18, inirekomenda ng Kagawaran sa Office of the Ombudsman ang pagpataw ng
disciplinary action sa 20 punong barangay sa Metro Manila.

“Kayo ang mga lider ng inyong mga komunidad. Paano kayo susundin ng mga tao
kung kayo ang nauunang sumuway? May mga na-sampolan na po tayo, ‘wag na po
sana tayong dumagdag sa problema ng bayan,” pagtatapos niya.