DILG to check local officials' absence amid Super Typhoon Uwan onslaught

The Department of the Interior and Local Government will look into the acceptability of the explanations of local chief executives who left the country despite the ban on foreign travel, while Super Typhoon Uwan battered the country.

Undersecretary Claire Castro, the Palace press officer, said there was a need to assess the explanation of local chief executives who left their constituents.

''Titingnan po muna natin at ito naman po ay nasa pamumuno ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla, tingnan po natin kung paano sila mageexplain at despite that memorandum sila po ay umalis ng bansa,'' Castro said on Monday.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier ordered all elective and appointive local officials to cancel and suspend foreign travel from November 9 to 15, 2025, as the country braces for the impact of Uwan.

Remulla had reminded local leaders that under the Local Government Code of 1991 and Republic Act No. 10121, they chair their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, stressing that they must be physically present during all phases of disaster management.

The LGUs are also urged to assist affected communities, reactivate Local Price Coordinating Councils to prevent overpricing, and coordinate with Regional and Provincial DRRMCs and DILG Regional Offices for timely and unified action.

For Castro, it cannot be determined yet if those who left the country were really at fault.

''Unang-una po kailangan muna itong maassess ano ba talaga ang kanilang pakay papunta sa ibang bansa at kung ito po ba ay talagang nakaapekto para sa mabilisang pagaksyon para sa mga kababayan natin na nakaranas ng hagupit ng bagyo,'' Castro said.

''Hindi po agad natin masasabi na sila ay may sala na, kailangan po itong pag-aralan,'' she added. –NB, GMA Integrated News