Proponents of the move to amend critical provisions in the 1987 Constitution have revved up efforts to get Congress to pass their proposed measures and adopt desired social, political, economic, and electoral reforms.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday conducted a briefing for heads of offices of members of the House of Representatives to push for the amendments which were first espoused by President Rodrigo Duterte who has conceded that pushing for a shift to a federal system of government would not be possible before his term ends in 2022.

The briefing was led by DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, project administrator of the DILG’s Center for Federalism and...

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said yesterday there would be enough time for the Senate and the House of Representatives to let constitutional reforms happen before President Rodrigo Duterte's term ends in 2022.

Año said he was confident the move to amend the 1987 Constitution could pass plenary debate as Congress prepares for deliberations on the committee report endorsing economic amendments which were earlier approved by the House Committee on Constitutional Amendment.

"We are optimistic that this constitutional reform that we are advocating for will be heard by Congress and the Senate," the DILG chief said. "We still have enough time, although the President's remaining time...

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified news reports that came out yesterday and said today that only eight barangays in Tagaytay City are covered by its mandatory evacuation order and therefore businesses may reopen in other barangays.

DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that in Tagaytay, the PHIVOLCS listed eight of its barangays as susceptible to Base Surge and Volcanic Tsunami which is why they were included in the Mandatory Evacuation Order issued by the Department as early as Monday.

"Let me clarify that it's not the entire Tagaytay City but only 8 of its barangays were included by PHIVOLCS as within the Danger Zone, so business establishments...

The Department of the Interior and Local Government ( DILG ) said that its order for mandatory evacuation in all barangays within the 14-km high risk danger zone was done together with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council ( NDRRMC ) and upon recommendation of the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

"Both the DILG and NDRRMC acted upon the strong representations of the PHIVOLCS that these barangays are susceptible to Volcanic Tsunami, Ballistic Projectiles, and Base Surge so as early as Monday we already issued the Mandatory Evacuation Order," said DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.

He said that in the case of Tagaytay, the PHIVOLCS listed...

As Taal Volcano is still on Alert Level 4, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today said that the government is on top of the situation with zero casualties and zero looting since January 12 when the volcano first had a phreatic eruption.

“The local government units along with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and other government agencies have proven their competence and showed resilience. They have acted decisively to meet the disaster head-on resulting in zero-casualty, zero-looting, and the fact that all residents are safe in evacuation centers.” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año during the presscon Monday morning.

Año...