Rappler's latest stories on local
How to fight the pandemic: Women mayors don’t sugarcoat how deadly the virus is
In the face of an unseen enemy, communication down to the grassroots is key, according to the mayors of Odiongan, Romblon; Tabaco, Albay; Barugo, Leyte; Oras, Eastern Samar
Pasig City offers loans to help unemployed residents
Residents seeking jobs or planning to start small businesses may avail of loans from the city government at no interest if they pay within two years, says Mayor Vico Sotto
In Pasig, fighting corruption yields COVID-19 cash aid for the people
Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto began his term by cleaning up the local government’s procurement process and auditing its assets. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, the city had money to help every household, and then some.
‘Common sense’ and speed shield Marikina City from the coronavirus
Marikina, a city of 450,000 residents, has one of the fastest reduction rates in cases. Mayor Marcy Teodoro says the city government simply did what public health experts advised: test, contain, and treat with speed.
Mandaue City COVID-19 frontliners to get P200 daily hazard pay
Mandaue City has 717 active coronavirus cases, 319 recoveries, and 25 deaths
Duterte task force behind red-tagging is part of COVID-19 'strategic communications'
Task force spokesman Major General Antonio Parlade Jr says their job is to counter 'communist propaganda' supposedly exploiting government lapses in dealing with the pandemic
DILG on one-week lockdown after exec gets coronavirus
DILG employees work from home until July 12
DILG issues guidelines on handling children who violate quarantine rules
Authorities are ordered to avoid unnecessary force towards children who violate quarantine rules and ensure their immediate return to their parents or guardians
How Iloilo City became ‘Wakanda’ of the Philippines
Iloilo City’s successful coronavirus response was not devised in a day. Neither can it be credited to only one person.
People vs Pandemic: How these mayors’ priorities protected their communities
Rappler features local governments that have been ahead in responding to the coronavirus pandemic
Legazpi City prepares a table for the quarantined
‘The local government should be felt. ’Pag nag-lockdown ka, ’tapos pinabayaan mo ang mga tao, ’wag ka na,’ says Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal
Gov't suspends bringing back stranded individuals to Western, Eastern Visayas
The suspension will last for two weeks, says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
In the fight vs COVID-19, these women mayors didn't take chances
Mayors Trina Firmalo-Fabic of Odiongan, Romblon, and Krisel Lagman-Luistro of Tabaco, Albay, consult their constituents and get creative in their response to the health crisis
Negros Occidental halts entry of stranded residents from Cebu
Most of the latest virus infections are persons who came from Cebu province
DILG files complaint vs Olongapo mayor for breaking lockdown rules
Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr allegedly organized a mass gathering to distribute social amelioration cards and allowed motorcycle backriding in his city
450 stranded travelers to leave for Cebu, Iloilo on board PH Navy ship
Philippine Navy officials say the humanitarian mission involves the 'biggest number of locally-stranded individuals transported in a single voyage by a Navy vessel so far'
Mass shortage: Philippines still lacks 83,000 contact tracers
The Philippines currently has around 52,000 contact tracers in its fight against the coronavirus. Ideally, it should have 135,000.
Año hands Malacañang list of LGU chiefs supporting anti-terror bill
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque says the document shows there is an 'overwhelming majority' of local government chiefs who support the controversial measure
Over 1,600 stranded individuals in Cordillera sent home – DILG
OWWA Cordillera also reports that it assisted 710 OFWs in the region from May 1 to June 9
Returnees comprise highest single-day rise in Eastern Visayas COVID-19 cases
Region VIII confirms 19 new cases in a day on Tuesday, June 9, bringing to 72 the total cases in the region
DILG to require bike lanes, warns of charges if not followed
(UPDATED) The DILG is set to require local government units to prioritize cyclists and pedestrians as the fight against the coronavirus impedes the availability of public transportation options
Why installing tracking devices on commercial fishing boats is a big help for LGUs
With some commercial fishing boats taking advantage of the coronavirus as a diversion from policing, making tracking devices on fishing vessels mandatory should help police municipal waters better
Año says families of some erring barangay officials got cash aid
DILG files criminal complaints to some 155 barangay officials over alleged cash aid distribution irregularities
No need for quarantine pass under GCQ, except in critical areas, buffer zones – DILG
Passes are still needed when traveling between provinces and regions
UPLB alliance calls on school officials to protect students from red-tagging
(UPDATED) UPLB Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr defends the students who participated in a demonstration in campus and were implicated in military propaganda against progressive organizations
Minding the gaps: Why coronavirus counts by DOH, LGUs differ
Experts urge better coordination among reporting agencies at the national and local levels as accurate data builds public trust and aids in decision-making
House panel chair to DILG: 'Cha-Cha can wait'
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez says lawmakers would rather focus on measures 'that will save lives and the livelihood of our people' during the pandemic
19 more barangay officials face criminal cases over cash aid distribution
'Nalalapit na ang paghuhukom para sa mga tiwaling opisyales ng mga barangay,' says Interior Secretary Eduardo Año
Duterte federalism campaign goes online during pandemic
The Duterte government gives a quota of at least 100,000 signatures per region
23 barangay officials face criminal charges over cash aid distribution
Barangay officials are accused of falsifying the list of beneficiaries and getting a cut or 'tara' from the emergency subsidy program
How local governments observed physical distancing in evacuation centers
To help LGUs prepare better as the country gears up for the typhoon season during a pandemic, MovePH collates a number of response practices observed when Ambo hit the country
Duterte's final gambit to end insurgency: task force vs communists
If the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict sees the ABS-CBN shutdown as a counterinsurgency issue, that's because the task force is meant to sniff out 'rebel influence' from anywhere
43 mayors face show cause orders over cash aid distribution
The DILG says 4 of the mayors are in Metro Manila
‘Let this be our final warning’: UP CMC slams red-tagging students during pandemic
‘An attack on our students is an attack on our college,’ the UP College of Mass Communication reminds the NTF-ELCAC
NTF-ELCAC 'black propaganda' vs Maria Ressa, ABS-CBN sparks outrage
(UPDATED) Following public backlash, the PCOO takes down the posts and says it's taking measures to 'uphold accountability' over the incident
Año: Jinggoy Estrada violated lockdown rules
While former senator Jinggoy Estrada wanted to help, relief operations should be done according to the law, says Interior Secretary Eduardo Año
Año: LGUs may declare ECQs in towns, barangays with reg'l task force approval
Without RIATF concurrence, the LGU declaration is invalid. 'National IATF may supercede anytime should circumstances call for it,' Año says
Gov't task force rejects ECQ requests of several provinces
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya says regional task forces may instead extend the enhanced community quarantine in smaller areas such as towns and barangays
DILG, DSWD extending deadline for LGUs to complete April cash aid
DILG chief Eduardo Año says they understand that it is difficult to distribute cash aid while observing physical distancing in areas that are densely populated, like in Metro Manila
DILG orders LGUs to set up local coronavirus task force
The local task forces should adopt the 4-step general protocols against COVID-19: contact tracing, isolation, testing, and reintegration or referral
LGU certification required for groups conducting coronavirus relief ops
Groups unable to show this certification will be stopped at checkpoints, says DILG Spokesman Jonathan Malaya
Is Baguio covered in Benguet’s extended lockdown? DILG says yes
Residents are initially confused, thinking Baguio's administrative independence from the province also applies in a quarantine situation
LGUs can no longer declare lockdowns on their own
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año says defiant local governments will not receive their allocated cash aid subsidies for poor families
At least 29 Metro Manila barangays failing to implement lockdown rules
The chairmen of the 29 barangays are facing show cause orders issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government
Rappler+ Webinar: Reality and response in a pandemic
Join us on Friday, April 24, 10 am via Zoom
DILG to LGUs: No more window hours in markets, groceries, pharmacies
Local officials' move to set window hours for buying food and medicine led to further congestion, says the Department of the Interior and Local Government
3 governors, 2 mayors face show cause orders for violating lockdown rules
The Department of the Interior and Local Government does not identify the local officials who allegedly violated the national government's 'prescribed directives' during the lockdown
[OPINION] Acting local against COVID-19
With a government that is not exceptionally wise, just, and benevolent, one nationally mandated decision can cause damage to all
SC, DOJ, DILG urged: Issue joint order not to arrest light offenders
'Otherwise we will have a situation where the more we lock people up, we're creating newer problems that we don't really need actually,' says former SC spokesperson Ted Te
Vico Sotto can't be prosecuted for violating Bayanihan law – DILG
'It’s a useless political distraction,' says DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya of the NBI summons against the Pasig mayor
