DILG

P332.5-billion proposal and spending performance: The FY2027 DILG-family NEP allocation was PHP 332.5 billion. The presentation described an increase of about 7%, with 84% for personnel services, 13% for maintenance and other operating expenses and 3% for capital outlay. It reported 2025 obligation and disbursement rates of 96% and 95%, respectively, and midyear 2026 rates of 55% and nearly 97%. BJMP, BFP, PNP and the Office of the Secretary would receive increases, while ECCD, PCW, NCMF, NYC and NAPOLCOM would receive less than their previous appropriations.

Emergency response, policing and custodial services: DILG reported expanded 911 access, reduced crime, a cleared NAPOLCOM case backlog, anti-drug operations, lower jail congestion and BFP reforms. Its plans included PNP recruitment, personnel welfare, equipment, ICT and facilities; additional BFP officers, trucks, stations, training centers and an arson laboratory; and BJMP recruits, medical and hygiene support, equipment and new Calabarzon jail facilities. NAPOLCOM proposed regional facilities and systems investment, while the Public Safety College would continue training, research and facilities development.

Local governance and disaster readiness: The presentation credited project monitoring, LGU training and digitalization with better local delivery and disaster preparation. The Office of the Secretary proposed continued capacity-building, citizen participation, emergency response, anti-drug and peace-and-order work, Manila Bay rehabilitation, ICT and office operations. The Local Government Academy would train newly elected barangay officials and support disaster readiness, innovation and local service capacity.

Youth, Muslim Filipinos, women and early childhood: NYC proposed SK training, youth participation, anti-bullying and health initiatives. NCMF priorities included Hajj administration, moonsighting, Madaris and Islamic studies, Muslim MSMEs, legal assistance and peace-building. PCW would expand its Visayas reach and sustain gender-and-development work. The ECCD Council would strengthen partners, service-provider accreditation and monitoring of child development centers.

DILG 2027 proposal and agency requests: The FY2027 DILG-family NEP allocation was PHP 332.5 billion, covering the department and attached bodies; the presentation said this was about 7% above the previous appropriation. No department-wide original request to DBM was stated. Attached bodies separately sought additions within the DILG family.

Public safety agencies seek additions: Rep. Rolando M. Valeriano spoke of moving to find additional or restored funding for BFP, PNP and BJMP, without a recorded second or ruling. Members sought more funding for BFP, PNP and BJMP. BFP presented an approximately PHP 3.4 billion package for rescue trucks, emergency operations, ambulances and recruits, including PHP 200 million to restore a removed item. PNP discussed a capital request initially described as PHP 1.7 billion and later cited by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez as PHP 2.025 billion. BJMP cited jail construction but gave unreconciled additional totals. Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez pledged to move the requested increases at the proper time; the hearing did not approve them.

Restoring civilian-agency programs: Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago urged restoration of cuts to the Philippine Commission on Women and Early Childhood Care and Development Council. PCW requested another PHP 30 million for Mindanao regionalization; DILG Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla supported restoration of the ECCD reduction. NYC sought funding for regional youth outreach and ICT, and Rep. Brian Poe argued its roughly PHP 19 million reduction should be restored or increased. NCMF asked for medical support for pilgrims and prioritized Madaris, halal-industry and Hajj programs. These requests went forward without an approved increase.

Barangay and fire-service funding proposals: Rep. Jose "Joboy" S. Aquino II asked to raise the 2027 SBDP allocation from PHP 5 million to at least PHP 7 million per barangay, below DILG's original PHP 10 million request; DILG Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla welcomed congressional action. Rep. Nelson S. Legacion proposed using Fire Code collections to cover BFP's PHP 3.428 billion additional request, while Remulla said DBM had allowed roughly PHP 1 billion annually. No adjustment or release was approved at the briefing.

Written requests for later amendment review: Committee Chair Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing asked DILG and its attached agencies to submit any additional budget requests in writing in the first half of the following week for the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee. The committee later terminated this hearing; that procedural action did not approve the proposed appropriations.

Security and local services in the budget: Opening the hearing, Rep. Arnie B. Fuentebella framed peace, disaster readiness and capable local governments as conditions for economic development. He said the FY 2027 DILG proposal was 7.1% above the 2026 GAA, with P242.5 billion for the PNP, and called for measurable gains in public safety and accountable spending. He reported a 96.33% emergency-response efficiency rate with five-to-seven-minute response times, 50,441 evacuation centers, more than 126,000 uniformed personnel deployed for disaster response, and declines across crime categories.

School safety and digital capability: Fuentebella cited 50 school-related incidents involving minors from June 16 to August 18, 2026 and urged prevention, early detection, lawful digital monitoring and closer DILG-DepEd coordination. He linked those needs to proposed PNP ICT and capability investments and the Public Safety College cyber-training project. These were opening priorities, before the agency presentation and questioning.

Releasing BFP collections and choosing a truck supplier: Fuentebella urged release of 72% of BFP collections, saying that could cover 100 fire trucks and more than 40 fire stations in a year. Remulla said only 25% was being released. Asked to explore Japan as well as Korea for government-to-government procurement, Remulla said the Japanese option had been checked and was 30% more expensive, making Korea the preferred option at that point.

Equipment seizures and the distinction between excavation and quarrying: Fuentebella relayed contractor complaints that a provincial Sagip Kalikasan task force was treating roadworks, flood-control excavation and work on private land as quarrying and seizing or attempting to seize heavy equipment. DILG Undersecretary for External, Legal and Legislative Affairs Romeo P. Benitez distinguished the cited excavation and clearing activities from quarrying and said he did not think the LGU had the asserted impounding authority; Fuentebella asked DILG to study it. PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said PNP enforces applicable laws and coordinates with the relevant agency, including DENR. Fuentebella asked DILG and PNP to investigate the reports and clarify police action, and undertook to provide the complaint documents. The exchange did not establish a completed investigation or final legal ruling on the incidents.

School violence and firearm safekeeping: Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula asked about online groups linked in reports to school shootings, coordination with investigators, and the use of government-issued firearms. Remulla said no conclusive link established that the group influenced the child involved. He described a planned DILG-DepEd circular allowing barangay tanods to augment school security and bag checks, alongside police presence at arrival and dismissal. He said the guns in the Tacloban and Zamboanga incidents had been left unsecured, proposed notified police inspections of lawful owners' safekeeping arrangements, and sought stronger penalties than reckless imprudence for owners whose guns are used illegally.

Mistaken-identity arrests and a biometric ID proposal: Citing repeated arrests of Basilan residents on other people's warrants, Ismula asked about verification resources and accountability. Remulla said almost P4 billion in accumulated savings would support a PNP community-ID system using biometrics and records. He said mistaken-identity arrests carry no reward, trigger administrative investigation and may be referred to NAPOLCOM where malicious intent is found. Asked about a Zamboanga family's case, he promised to obtain an update within the hour.

Whether barangay VAWC desks actually function: Ismula contrasted DILG's reported 97% coverage of functional VAWC/GBV desks with reports of unstaffed desks, inadequate spaces and rooms used for storage, asking about recurring staffing, training and maintenance funding. Remulla said desk funding comes from barangay allocations while DILG monitors performance and improvement needs. He acknowledged uneven functionality and committed to continued monitoring.

Politicized local assistance and complaint handling: Ismula questioned DILG's role in Local Government Support Fund assistance and reported favoritism or photographed distributions that did not reach intended recipients. Remulla said DBM disburses funds while DILG and COA monitor distribution. He acknowledged reports but said proving relationships between recipients and distributors is difficult. DILG would investigate submitted complaints and refer established wrongdoing to the appropriate local authority or, for more serious cases, the Ombudsman.

Opportunities for out-of-school youth: Ismula cited PSA data that 17.4% of people aged five to 24 were out of school and asked about 2027 programs and routes back to education or decent work. NYC Chairperson and CEO Joseph Francisco R. Ortega said NYC events included out-of-school youth, supported a Magna Carta for the sector, and used the DepEd-chaired advisory council for coordination. He cited a P2.5 million youth entrepreneurship allocation and DOT/DTI partnerships for creative-sector opportunities, while noting NYC’s advocacy and policy role. No school-return or employment target was provided.

Hajj medical support and NCMF priorities: Ismula pressed for adequate medical support for pilgrims. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim cited only P616,000 in the 2027 NEP for medical expenses, describing it as P95 per pilgrim against a projection of 6,000 pilgrims, and sought P6.1 million. He prioritized P87.5 million for Madaris, P89.494 million for halal-industry and Muslim-community economic programs, and P24.537 million for Hajj modernization including the medical request. Ismula supported an increase; the chair requested the written proposals and pledged support, without approving the sums. The stated per-pilgrim calculation was not reconciled in the hearing.

PCW capacity and regional participation: Ismula asked PCW to identify needs affected by its cut. PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla described training and webinars reaching about 1,000 participants each, a proposed gender research and capacity-building center, and the need for subnational presence so women could participate in governance and benefit from GAD resources. PCW would submit its full request list; the chair directed submission through the appropriations leadership with a copy to him. Ismula closed by supporting higher PCW and NCMF budgets.

Gun-storage inspections and school-violence prevention: Rep. Rolando M. Valeriano asked whether proposed home inspections of gun owners required an enabling law. Remulla proposed revising the implementing rules, giving advance notice and inspecting storage against a safety checklist, especially to keep guns away from children. Valeriano said his committee would hold a separate inquiry on school shootings. Remulla sought repeal of the law he called the Robin Padilla law, citing his department's estimate that 98% of violent crimes involve loose firearms, and requested added BJMP capacity if stricter detention rules increased jail populations.

Proposed Roblox ban: Asked about preventive measures, Remulla proposed banning Roblox, alleging that communities around the game encouraged children's violent impulses. He distinguished that allegation from a claim about every first-person shooting game. The exchange presented his proposal and characterization; it did not announce an enacted ban.

Fire-truck funding and budget augmentation: Remulla tentatively put 2025 budget utilization at 95.2%. On fire-truck shortages, he said BFP collected about P4.5 billion annually in Fire Code fees but only about P1 billion was committed for its use that year. He described a government-to-government arrangement with Korea being completed for 1,500 trucks over four years, at a stated 40% lower cost than previous purchases and with maintenance support. Valeriano sought additional funds for BFP, PNP and BJMP and restoration of removed budget items; no augmentation amount was approved in this exchange.

Uniformed personnel retirement age: Valeriano discussed the House measure extending PNP retirement from 56 to 57, with BFP and BJMP to follow. Remulla supported 57 but preferred an eventual increase to 60 to retain experienced personnel. Valeriano said police leadership had favored 57 after accounting for training and service demands.

BFP recruitment corruption: Rep. Percival "Perci" Cendaña asked how BFP was stopping the sale of recruitment slots. Remulla said a detected case had been acted on and described past demands of P200,000 to P800,000. BFP cited free online applications, system-generated examination results and an arrest following an applicant's complaint. It acknowledged that human involvement near the final selection stage still created opportunities for misconduct; Cendaña urged stronger vigilance.

School violence and harmful online content: Cendaña cited at least 50 school incidents involving children in conflict with the law from June 16 to August 19, alongside 74 nihilistic-violent-extremism cases and 42 rescued minors reported by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group. Remulla described police deployment at school entry and dismissal and barangay-assisted bag checks, while acknowledging the limits of school security against influences at home. He urged coordinated government action to restrict dangerous online content. These were proposed responses, not a reported enactment of platform restrictions.

Targeting youth mental-health support: Asked about NYC's response, Ortega cited youth mental-health hubs, peer facilitators and cooperation with DSWD. Cendaña urged NYC and PNP to map incidents and direct services to affected communities. NYC described limited resources, an approved anti-bullying summit for the following year, work with Meta and provincial camps, and a direct reporting channel for bullying. The exchange emphasized matching prevention and mental-health services to actual areas of need.

Closing the child-development-center gap: Cendaña cited roughly 4,600 barangays without child development centers and asked whether the new ECCD law would close the gap despite budget constraints. Remulla placed construction funding with barangays, other local governments and DPWH rather than DILG's operating budget. Cendaña called for the ECCD Council to coordinate the agencies involved, and Remulla agreed on the need for convergence. Remulla described 96% of DILG spending as MOOE or salaries and cited a P124 million ECCD budget, much of it for feeding and capacity building.

Youth HIV prevention and regional outreach: Cendaña asked about SK training on HIV programming and expansion beyond the Metro Manila pilot. NYC cited Pride outreach and testing booths but undertook to obtain the actual testing count; crowd attendance was not a testing result. Ortega sought Visayas and Mindanao activities, discussing P5 million for each of three island-group legs, or P15 million. Separately, he cited a P8 million allocation and requested P12 million more for broader women's and adolescent sexual and reproductive health work. Cendaña supported community information, testing and action against stigma.

Support for barangay health workers: Cendaña described barangay health workers paying patients' transport and medicine expenses and asked for support. Remulla said allowances depended on local chief executives rather than a DILG budget line. When Cendaña requested DILG guidance and recommendations to local governments, Remulla agreed to act.

BFP capital needs and procurement reform: Rep. Jose "Bong" J. Teves Jr. contrasted BFP's proposed overall increase, from about P35 billion to P38 billion, with a capital-outlay decline from P1.4 billion to P362 million. He called for 67 fire stations, rescue trucks beyond the eight then available, and 2,000 additional personnel, recalling a promised station for Virac. Remulla attributed the capital reduction to restructuring procurement after alleged corruption and said reforms would allow increased capital spending and more efficient operations. No additional appropriation was approved in this exchange.

Funding police oversight: Teves questioned a roughly P150 million NAPOLCOM reduction while the PNP budget increased, urging stronger funding for supervision, discipline and accountability. Remulla reported disposal of a 15,000-case backlog and said DBM's approved amount differed from NAPOLCOM's request. He sought accommodation of the commission's requirements; Teves encouraged colleagues to augment DILG-family budgets.

Regional solid-waste management: After flooding and blocked drains, Teves asked whether cities had been investigated over waste-management failures and alleged corruption. Remulla's response focused on fragmented municipal and city responsibility: he proposed reviewing the Local Government Code to enable a regional approach and economies of scale. Teves also urged revisiting the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. The response did not identify a completed city investigation.

Hazing case and prevention: Teves sought action on a student's hazing death and alleged involvement of a police colonel. Remulla said the Dasmariñas case had been solved, while calling for stronger anti-hazing measures and acknowledging the difficulty of monitoring school and community organizations. He suggested community-based identification. His response did not provide the case disposition or resolve the specific allegation against the officer.

PCW regional reach and GAD accountability: Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago sought restoration of a P27 million PCW budget cut. Valdeavilla said regional expansion was most affected: a previous P30 million addition supported entry into the Visayas, and another P30 million could support Mindanao. On GAD compliance, she reported an increase from 378 registered agencies in December 2025 to 488 by July 2026, alongside reminders about agency heads' accountability and a shift from tracking spending to assessing benefits for women. Elago urged restoration to the 2026 level or higher.

ECCD cuts and centerless barangays: Elago questioned a P232 million ECCD budget cut following its transfer to DILG. Remulla attributed the reduction to DBM and supported restoration. ECCD Council Executive Director Dr. Teresita G. Inciong said conversion of daycare facilities and provision of learning materials and furnishings would suffer; rehabilitation funding did not cover those contents. She cited 3,743 centerless barangays after validation and said the new law placed funding with LGUs. Warning that poorer LGUs could not meet the need, Elago proposed a dedicated national line item for child development centers.

VAW frontline workers and forensic kits: Elago sought better compensation, possible hazard pay, gender-sensitivity training and stress debriefing for barangay VAW desk officers, citing P500 monthly honoraria. Remulla said local governments had to balance the needs of many categories of barangay workers against available resources; he announced no specific pay increase. Asked about locally made sexual-assault investigation kits, he said LGUs were encouraged to fund them. Elago suggested considering DOH funding to support timely forensic evidence collection.

Changing the PNP response to VAWC complaints: Elago challenged a PNP policy allowing counseling or reconciliation between complainants and police spouses, arguing that VAWC was a crime rather than a private marital dispute. Remulla initially described mutual reconciliation with limits and cited disciplinary action and prosecution in harassment cases. After Elago pressed for compliance with the anti-VAWC law, he undertook to make the necessary policy adjustments.

Victim-sensitive safety messaging: Elago criticized anti-rape posts that placed responsibility on victims and called for safer streets and messages explaining hotlines, referrals, psychosocial support and legal assistance. Remulla initially defended the posts as guidance and cited a reported 60% rape decline from April to August under Safer Cities. He later said the posts had already been corrected, cited an OCTA finding that 63% of women felt safer traveling home alone, and acknowledged further improvement was needed. Elago stressed fear-driven underreporting and requested supporting documents.

Funding solo-parent benefits: Elago asked how many LGUs delivered the monthly solo-parent subsidy. DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo L. Iringan reported support in fifteen provinces, 105 cities and 535 municipalities and cited joint DILG-DSWD guidance, while identifying local funding constraints. Elago urged national assistance first for third-, fourth- and fifth-class municipalities to deliver the P1,000 monthly benefit. She requested a broader report on subsidies, discounts, registration and implementation gaps; no new subsidy appropriation was approved.

SK training and election uncertainty: Elago sought the mandatory-training budget and the implications of postponing SK elections. Ortega cited about P72 million for 2027, core-module development and training of local trainers through the national steering structure. An incomplete survey of 120 federation presidents showed mixed views, with many incumbents favoring extension; NYC was also seeking broader stakeholder views. He noted demands for special elections where absent SK officials prevented budget implementation. LGA later described preparations for newly elected barangay officials, and Elago supported adequate capacity-building funds.

Pax Silica information sessions and local participation: Elago questioned the purpose, cost and authority for LGA’s Pax Silica session before a framework agreement she said remained unsigned. Local Government Academy Executive Director Thelma T. Vecina described an expert-led response to requests from field officers and LGUs, within the NEO Plus program, and a recommendation for a joint local coordinating committee. She did not have the component’s exact cost and promised to provide it. Elago urged inclusive consideration of farmers and Indigenous Peoples concerned about livelihoods, agriculture and ancestral land; no final project agreement or local impact determination was established.

Delayed Lingayen road widening: Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco sought the PNP approval needed to widen Cadre Road in Lingayen and replace a police compound wall and gates. He cited P60 million available since 2025 and warned that the funds could lapse at year-end. Remulla said the delay concerned the perimeter structures and undertook to ensure implementation; the exchange did not establish that the required signatures had already been obtained.

Recovering disputed police property: Cojuangco alleged that a powerful former police and political figure occupied more than a hectare adjoining PNP property, and demanded recovery, investigation and regular updates. Nartatez described coordination with land and other authorities, promised an update, and committed to filing a case after a thorough investigation. Cojuangco cited a DENR land-classification order as resolving the ownership obstacle. Nartatez said it could support referral for appropriate criminal or administrative action and promised continuing reports; recovery and liability were not established as completed.

Reusing retired police vehicles: Cojuangco asked what had happened to parked Mahindra vehicles and sought repair and transfer of available units for the district's 231 barangays. Remulla said 95% were considered beyond economic repair and beyond normal service life. Cojuangco argued that unavailable brake and clutch parts could be sourced from India and that barangays could still use the vehicles. Remulla undertook an accounting and a status update, without promising a specific number of transfers.

LGSF discretion and allocation rules: Rep. Antonio L. Tinio criticized the increase of financial assistance to LGUs from a P5 billion NEP proposal to P37.4 billion in the 2026 budget as discretionary and politically usable. He questioned assistance ceilings and the absence of stated infrastructure ceilings for larger LGUs. Remulla emphasized that DBM issued the rules and DILG primarily monitored implementation. When Tinio cited a provision for DILG to recommend amounts on referral, Remulla acknowledged limited referrals, mainly involving water systems. The department did not accept Tinio's characterization of a general allocation-policy role.

Disclosure, utilization and local accountability: Tinio cited P57 billion in 2026 LGSF appropriations rising to P68 billion with continuing funds, and another P57 billion proposed for 2027. Remulla initially offered a full utilization report the following year. After Tinio invoked quarterly reporting and requested 2025-2026 updates, Remulla cited the Subay Bayan portal and committed to submit available reports to the committee within the day. On implementation, he cited hired engineers and COA assistance across more than 40,000 recipients. Tinio questioned unreverted balances dating to 2016; Remulla distinguished earlier arrangements from DILG's 2026 role and said detected discrepancies could lead to charges.

Jail records and delayed releases: Tinio raised detainees whose release was delayed by missing or problematic records. Remulla proposed combining BJMP and BuCor under DOJ, with municipal and provincial jails included in a common computerized records system; Fuentebella specifically urged including provincial jails. Tinio agreed that record problems extended beyond BJMP and arranged to raise individual cases with the bureau afterward. The exchange proposed institutional and database changes but did not establish that particular detainees had been released.

Visits by people outside a detainee’s immediate family: Tinio challenged BJMP restrictions affecting friends and support groups, especially where families lived far away, and compared them unfavorably with BuCor practice. BJMP Chief Jail Director Efren A. Nemeño said lawyers, doctors and direct family could visit, while other visitors needed prior authorization by the PDL and submission of their names to the warden. Tinio proposed obtaining consent on arrival instead. BJMP cited limited visitation space, agreed to submit its written procedures to the committee and expressed willingness to review them. The policy was not changed during the exchange.

Status of the proposed Korean fire-truck procurement: Tinio sought confirmation of contracts and suppliers for the proposed 1,500-truck arrangement. DILG Undersecretary for Plans and Programs Jon Paulo V. Salvahan clarified that discussions were advanced but specifications were still being refined; Korea, through its agencies including KOTRA, would evaluate suppliers against Philippine specifications, and no supplier had yet been identified by the Philippines. He said Philippine contractors would have no role, and BFP was expected to submit specifications the next day. Tinio requested a detailed written update before plenary. Fuentebella described preliminary discussions, an expected 30% cost advantage over Japan and maintenance support, while stressing the need for DBM releases. No signed procurement or awarded supplier was established.

Local enforcement and police accountability: Rep. Richard I. Gomez sought a stronger anti-drug campaign in his district, recalling Ormoc's drug-cleared status and subsequent safety improvements. He asked DILG and PNP to examine the Albuera police chief, a former provincial director and CIDG records, and to scrutinize local officials over alleged illegal drugs, gambling and quarrying. These were requests and allegations; the response did not report findings against the officers or officials identified by role.

Staffing and equipment for new stations: Gomez reported that Ormoc's police stations had increased from four to eight, with police and fire facilities also built in Kananga and Isabel. He sought matching personnel, fire trucks and continued support for local security. Remulla cited a recent motorcycle distribution and promised additional police vehicles and ambulances on an October visit, plus two allotted fire trucks. Gomez closed by supporting the proposed 2027 DILG budget.

Measuring actual local-government performance: Rep. Edgar R. Erice challenged whether the Seal of Good Local Governance measured service improvements or merely documentary compliance. Remulla described moving to one assessment per term and focusing on resilience, fiscal management and innovation, instead of a lengthy checklist that had consumed five million staff-hours annually. He said broader independent validation lacked funding, tentatively estimating another P5 billion, although third parties already checked project implementation. He welcomed an appropriation for wider validation and said a separate law was unnecessary.

Retaining collections for fire-service needs: Erice proposed a budget provision allowing agencies to retain collections for their needs. Remulla cited P4.5 billion in annual BFP remittances to the Treasury and said only about 30% was returned for its use, subject to DBM releases. He welcomed the proposal and referred to a 1,500-truck procurement arrangement over the next three years. Erice sought follow-up work on a special provision; no retention authority was adopted during the exchange.

Integrated metropolitan flood management: Erice argued that fragmented responsibility and competing city plans left no accountable center for Metro Manila flood control. He proposed metropolitan governance with a single accountable authority, citing the scale of the population, waste and drainage problems. Remulla agreed on coordination and described aging drainage infrastructure. He suggested that a proposed water department address flood mitigation as well as water supply. The exchange did not establish a new metropolitan body or department.

Restricting firearms and improving safe storage: Erice urged much stricter gun ownership rules. Remulla instead emphasized loose firearms, attributing 98% of gun violence to them and calling for repeal of what he termed the Robin Padilla law to make possession non-bailable. For licensed weapons, he proposed IRR changes enabling scheduled home inspections of storage, citing two school shootings involving firearms belonging to uniformed personnel. These remained legislative and regulatory proposals, not enacted restrictions.

Waste contracts and regional responsibility: Erice alleged that clean-all garbage contracts could be fully paid despite incomplete collection, worsening waterway blockage. He cited roughly 12,000 tons of daily waste and asked DILG to use its supervisory role. Remulla said contract oversight belonged to COA and advocated regional collection and disposal arrangements rather than fragmented LGU systems. When Erice invoked presidential supervision of local governments, Remulla stressed the practical limits of examining over 40,000 LGUs in detail and favored structural reform of waste responsibilities.

Using accumulated Fire Code collections: Rep. Nelson S. Legacion contrasted BFP service gaps: 107 municipalities without activated stations and trucks and 378,429 establishments not inspected, with reported 2025 collections of P4.3 billion. He cited a roughly P10.536 billion trust balance and a P3.428 billion additional request, arguing that collections could fund it. Remulla said DILG sought access to the full amount but DBM allowed only about P1 billion annually; the Secretary's approval alone did not secure release. Legacion moved for additional BFP funding from the trust collections, and Fuentebella noted the motion and urged colleagues to press DBM. No specific augmentation was approved.

Lower-cost trucks, ambulances and staffing: Remulla said government-to-government procurement would lower a comparable fire truck's cost from P16 million to P10 million. The chair supported wider release of collections for stations, trucks and rescue services. Remulla cited 5,000 nurses on BFP's payroll but limited ambulances, seeking funding for fully equipped Class 1 units. Fuentebella cited a 40,000-person staffing gap and proposed raising annual recruitment from 2,000 to 4,000, shortening the stated catch-up period from twenty years to ten. These were funding proposals, not completed procurement or hiring.

Electric-cooperative taxes and power theft: Rep. Sergio C. Dagooc thanked DILG for directing LGU compliance with electric-cooperative local-tax exemptions, benefiting consumers who would otherwise bear the charges. He said four provinces still required CDA registration and would be identified through PHILRECA; Remulla promised assistance. Dagooc also sought police and LGU cooperation against electricity theft to reduce non-technical system losses while legislative amendments were pending. Remulla assured him of enforcement support.

Utility payments as a governance criterion: Dagooc argued that LGUs and officials with unpaid electricity bills should not receive fiscal-management recognition. He asked that utility-payment compliance be included in the Seal of Good Local Governance criteria. Remulla agreed to include it in the next evaluation round.

Development plans and responsive youth programs: Rep. Julienne "Jam" L. Baronda urged stronger guidance and training for SK and barangay officials, saying budgets were being used without annual development plans and programs should match young people's needs. She recalled raising non-submission with DILG in March. Remulla undertook to issue a memorandum requiring the plans and automatically excluding non-submitting LGUs from SGLG recognition. He reserved his broader views on SK for later discussion.

Targeting assistance to eligible households: Baronda questioned beneficiary selection using CBMS, citing an Iloilo City list of 623 intended recipients of P2,000 monthly support but only 327 first-tranche recipients after eligibility checks. She urged clear sectoral criteria and assistance reaching vulnerable children and single-parent families rather than favored contacts. Remulla placed the other assistance concerns with DSWD and relevant agencies, while undertaking to act within DILG's remit; he did not announce a corrected list or new eligibility rules.

Barangay travel spending: Baronda asked DILG to regulate barangay officials' travel and balance travel-order approvals against public needs, citing a P30,000 three-day trip and acknowledging that some barangays and federations performed well. Remulla took note of the request; no new travel restriction was announced.

Practical SK training and accountability: Baronda urged training to be incorporated into federation-election activities so new officials understood their responsibilities promptly. Ortega described continuing courses, COA audit guidance, an accountants’ partnership and a review of the one-day orientation modules with LGA, while seeking more staff for NYC’s ten area offices. Asked about suspended or removed officials, he promised figures and said NYC referred enforcement matters to DILG. Iringan emphasized a removal process under federation rules. Baronda sought regular meetings and annual reports, citing P160,000 monthly pay plus P20,000 travel allowance for a highly urbanized city federation president. NYC offered a supporting resolution but could only encourage compliance; DILG undertook further circular guidance.

Out-of-school youth data and support: Baronda asked why out-of-school youth numbers were rising and urged attention to those unable to continue because of curriculum or financial problems. Ortega cautioned that available education data did not fully capture the population and could undercount it. He suggested funding NYC’s Policy and Research Division to undertake the needed work; no verified total or funded research commitment was established.

Sustaining drug enforcement and police facilities: Baronda sought support to sustain drug operations through prosecution and detention. Nartatez said supply- and demand-reduction efforts would continue and linked attention to illegal drugs and firearms to preventing focus crimes, without specifying a new prosecution measure. Baronda also reported completed police housing and a Western Visayas command center at Camp Delgado, built with DPWH support, and invited officials to visit in late September.

Catanduanes fire and emergency capacity: Rep. Eulogio "Leo" R. Rodriguez thanked BFP for facilities, a Bagamanoc fire truck and hiring fourteen successful applicants, asking that local recruits serve in Catanduanes for reliable emergency mobilization. He sought station construction or repair and replacement trucks, citing unserviceable units in about three municipalities. Remulla described the planned South Korean procurement of 1,500 trucks and said wider support depended on release of trust collections, assuring Catanduanes of consideration. No specific 2027 station total or local deployment order was supplied. Rodriguez said 40% of the province’s fire marshals came from the mainland/Albay area, complicating emergency mobilization.

Unresolved incidents and police coordination: Rodriguez sought progress on the 2020 ransacking of his home and later incidents involving his leaders. Nartatez acknowledged no significant update, undertook to direct local investigators to coordinate, and promised an official committee report that day. Rodriguez also complained of poor contact from the provincial director; Remulla promised instructions ensuring a courtesy call. Rodriguez stressed that police should serve all residents rather than one political figure.

Completing the BFP regional facility: Rodriguez asked why the Region 5 BFP building had remained unfinished for years and sought completion of the planned command and training facilities. BFP's Kwan Tiu reported 50% completion and undertook to find funding to resume and finish work. The exchange identified a funding need, not secured financing or a completion date.

Duplicate training charges and wage deductions: Rep. Elijah Rumbaoa San Fernando described security guards being charged for training twice when hiring agencies refused to recognize prior training, including through train-now-pay-later deductions. PNP SOSIA Chief Police Brigadier General Rudecindo L. Reales explained that agencies could operate separately licensed schools or have training agreements, but said the alleged duplicate charges required investigation. He reported ongoing probes of unauthorized deductions and intensified nationwide post inspections. An online deployment and reporting system was being developed toward comprehensive monitoring. San Fernando stressed written agreement for deductions; no individual complaint was declared resolved.

Security personnel in labor disputes: San Fernando asked how SOSIA upheld freedom of association and trained guards to avoid intimidation during labor disputes. Reales initially said labor matters were referred to labor authorities, then cited labor policies in the instruction program and new training-management subjects. On alleged water-hosing and threats against striking workers at a Laguna facility in March, he said the administrative investigation remained ongoing and promised an update within the week. Reales also confirmed the policy, cited by San Fernando from a SOSIA advisory, that security personnel should not interfere in labor disputes and must respect labor rights.

SK dismissal appeal and a municipal budget dispute: Deputy Speaker Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano described an SK chair removed for missing a statutory budget deadline, a provincial council's reduction of the penalty to a three-month suspension, and municipal refusal to recognize the provincial ruling. He warned that the resulting dispute threatened the municipality's 2027 budget and questioned an earlier DILG legal opinion. Benitez affirmed the provincial council's appellate authority while distinguishing it from the municipal council's statutory power to dismiss an SK official. Emano disputed the consistency of that explanation with the earlier opinion and agreed to submit the documents. Remulla accepted his request for a reply before plenary; the hearing did not settle the underlying dispute.

Raising support per development-program barangay: Rep. Jose "Joboy" S. Aquino II said the original SBDP request was P10 million for each of 1,948 barangays, totaling P19.48 billion, but the 2027 NEP provided P5 million each, or P9.74 billion. Citing rural Butuan's classroom, health, water and electrification needs and classroom costs of P3 million to P3.5 million, he appealed for at least P7 million per barangay. Remulla confirmed that DILG had requested P10 million and welcomed a congressional increase to P7 million, while leaving the appropriation decision to Congress. He also cited a 2,000-classroom shortage in Cavite. No increase was approved during the round.

School violence, online influence and police presence: Rep. Alyssa Michaela "Mica" M. Gonzales asked whether organized recruitment was encouraging children to commit violence. Remulla declined to disclose some details publicly to avoid copycat incidents and offered an executive-session briefing. He attributed influence in the Tacloban and Zamboanga cases to Roblox interactions and reiterated his request for a ban; the exchange did not establish that a syndicate had been found or that a ban existed. He described police outside schools and barangay tanods inside. Asked whether deployment was temporary, he said it was already policy. Gonzales suggested taking up the confidential briefing after budget deliberations.

Police staffing for a growing urban center: Rep. Julius Cesar "Jay" V. Vergara described Cabanatuan’s local spending on police vehicles, communications and a planned 2,408-camera CCTV system, but said its police force had never exceeded 200 despite a nighttime population above 347,700, citing PSA, and substantial commercial activity. Remulla acknowledged nationwide shortages and promised to include Cabanatuan in the next recruitment/deployment cycle and the following fiscal year’s augmentation list. Vergara also raised 24 changes of fire marshal during his first nine years as a longstanding service problem. No specific additional police headcount was given.

Checking barangay assistance records: Vergara raised barangay captains’ complaints concerning the distribution of P200,000 assistance. Remulla undertook to check the records and rectify the issue. The fragmented exchange does not establish the precise distribution irregularity or that a correction had already occurred.

SONA arrests and protest safeguards: Rep. Renee Louise M. Co questioned arrests at the permitted SONA mobilization, how police distinguished alleged vandals from other participants, and accounts of force against an older protester. Remulla said arrests followed vandalism and aggression toward police, maintained that officers exercised restraint, and denied rights violations. Co challenged reports of armed police near the assembly under BP 880. Remulla promised investigation while saying frontline responders were unarmed and no firearm was drawn or used. Co would submit accounts; Remulla undertook to provide the after-operation report, deployment plan and incident logs to the committee that afternoon. The competing accounts were not adjudicated.

Body-camera shortages and procurement: Co sought the operational status of police body cameras and the share of 2025-2026 arrests recorded with functional units. Remulla acknowledged obsolete equipment and a shortfall, citing 2,000 cameras for 320,000 police personnel. He clarified that new AI-enabled units were still being procured, discussing another 10,000 or 20,000 and annual augmentation. He described improved optics and digital capacity and promised the procurement specifications to the committee. No compliance percentage was supplied, and procurement was not complete.

Safer Cities apprehensions and rights: Co cited more than 700,000 Metro Manila apprehensions and questioned their consistency with the decriminalization of vagrancy and protections for the urban poor. Remulla defended enforcement as principally addressing public drinking and intoxication rather than mere presence in the street. He promised updated figures and claimed reductions of almost 30% in focus crimes, 60% in rape, 50% in violent crimes and 30% in physical injuries. Asked about equipment, he said officers carried firearms but cameras remained insufficient. Co reserved further debate; the exchange did not settle the legality of individual apprehensions.

School violence and treatment of young people: Co disputed a predominantly video-game explanation for school shootings and asked how armed police treated children without fostering fear. Remulla maintained that games played a large role in the two cases and offered confidential background details in an executive session. Co emphasized multiple social influences, including a wider culture of violence, Tokhang and alleged harassment of student leaders. Remulla said Tokhang and student harassment were not state policy and cited his own non-retaliatory response to protesters. Co urged that restraint also be practiced regionally and locally; Remulla agreed.

Drug lists and police disciplinary accountability: Co challenged continuing barangay drug lists despite the stated end of Tokhang, asking how names were verified and how rehabilitated people could be removed. Nartatez described intelligence gathering, interviews with arrested persons and procedural safeguards, but did not explain a concrete delisting route. On sanctions for allegedly abusive or staged operations, NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Atty. Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan said NAPOLCOM had cleared its historic backlog and was handling current cases. At Co’s request, the chair directed a 2025-2026 disciplinary-status report; NAPOLCOM agreed to submit it Tuesday.

Barangay development performance and disclosure: Co sought BDP accomplishments, fund accountability and E-CLIP verification. Iringan reported delivery rates of 99.86% for 2021, 100% for 2022 and 98.48% for 2023; for 2024,90% on the original allocation and 71% on the later addition; 29% for 2025; and no completed 2026 projects because releases came in the second and third quarters. He cited 700 engineers and evaluators, Subay Bayan reporting and third-party monitors. DILG would provide project-completion and release data and monitoring reports by Tuesday, while financial-use auditing belonged to COA. The answer did not set out a specific E-CLIP beneficiary-verification procedure.

Drill safeguards and an unconfirmed schedule: Co requested the nationwide school-shooting-drill plan and raised risks of anxiety and trauma. Salvahan said DepEd led the school simulations, with PNP, DILG and BFP support and expert feedback. Guidelines were still being refined, including mental-health comments. He did not confirm Co’s reported September 1 start date, saying only that rescheduling might be the following week, and promised to share the guidelines when received.

Implementing SK anti-dynasty provisions: Co asked what NYC had done to support enforcement of the SK anti-dynasty rule. Ortega stressed its recommendatory role and cited a CHR youth-suffrage partnership supported by roughly P 4.8 million realigned from NYC, compared with CHR’s P 600,000 allocation. He lacked figures on COMELEC recommendations or actions. When Co sought a list of past recommendations, NYC undertook to contact COMELEC and report back; the chair’s suggested Tuesday deadline was not clearly accepted in the mixed closing turn.

Restricting youth access to social media: Rep. Mark Anthony G. Santos sought DILG support for pending bills restricting social-media access, linking the concern to cyberbullying, harmful content, digital addiction and recruitment of young people into drugs. Remulla agreed with restrictions and said he preferred a ban or limits on hours of use for children fourteen and below. Santos supported additional DILG funding. The exchange expressed legislative preferences rather than an enacted ban.

School emergency response and drills: Rep. Brian Poe cited a San Carlos survey showing 97% trust in PNP and 95% feeling safe, then asked how police could respond faster to school violence. Salvahan described DepEd coordination, a planned nationwide active-attack drill with PNP and BFP, guidelines still being refined, police outside schools and a proposed circular for tanods inside. Nartatez reported 97% compliance with a five-minute response target, while stressing equipment, training, community coordination and Unified 911. He cited only about 2,000 body cameras, describing this as roughly 2% of the planned build-up. When Poe asked for the specific school-drill budget line, Nartatez referred generally to community programs and patrols rather than identifying one.

Restoring youth programs and ICT funding: Poe questioned a 6.11%, roughly P19 million, NYC budget reduction and unfunded requests for a P10 million Muslim Youth Summit, P14 million Creative Youth Summit and ICT modernization. Ortega linked the summits to Muslim Filipino and creative-sector partnerships and outreach across the three island groups. He specified a P24.948 million ICT request for general services, accounting, budget, treasury and procurement systems to improve accountability. With about 10,000 registered youth organizations, Poe urged restoration or expansion of funding, supported by the chair. Ortega cautioned that absorptive capacity also required an optimization plan and additional personnel services: only two staff handled procurement.

A timetable for Local Government Code amendments: Rep. Antonino B. Roman III pressed DILG to submit proposed code amendments rather than prolong consultations while piecemeal bills waited, citing outdated penalties such as a P5,000 provincial ceiling. Iringan described parallel consultations led by DBM with national agencies, DILG with LGUs and leagues, and CODE-NGO with civil society. DILG already had proposals but was still vetting them. On Roman’s request for a timetable, Iringan undertook to coordinate and submit available material to the committee by the following week.

A more equitable national-tax allocation: Roman urged both a larger LGU share and a fairer distribution among LGU levels and income classes, linking underfunded devolved health and agriculture functions to weak services. Iringan supported reviewing the 40% national-tax share and acknowledged the sensitivity of redistribution. He described the municipal formula as 50% population, 25% land area and 25% equal sharing, suggesting that the equal component become equity-based to reflect mountainous, island, disaster-prone and conflict-affected areas. Roman proposed income classification, poverty incidence and performance as further criteria; Iringan agreed. No new formula was adopted.

Fire trucks for Bataan municipalities: Roman said Hermosa had a truck but Orani, Samal and Abucay lacked one, citing recent fires and earlier requests. BFP’s Kwan Tiu undertook to note the localities and address the issue. Roman asked that an earlier assurance be followed through; no delivery date or number of units was given.

Police mobility and additional capital funding: Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez cited deliveries for Region 10 and Cagayan de Oro of sixteen personnel carriers and 31 Innovas, and expected eight carriers and 25 patrol cars for 2027, seeking twenty of the latter for the city. Asked about additional needs, Nartatez cited stations, buildings, firearms, mobility and body cameras. After initially referring to P1.7 billion, the exchange clarified support for an additional request later stated by Rodriguez as P2.025 billion. Rodriguez backed the increase; his requested local distribution was not confirmed as an allocation decision.

Jail congestion and facility requests: After acknowledging delivery of a prisoner van, Rodriguez asked for BJMP’s additional requirements. Nemeño identified congestion and P229.157 million for jail construction, noting that only five of seventeen projects were in the NEP and a broader package could reach about P5 billion. He undertook a separate Region 10 and Cagayan de Oro request. The later total discussion cited roughly P747 million, a separate P754.554 million figure, and P847 million after a proposed P100 million addition; these inconsistent totals were not reconciled. Rodriguez promised to push the request rather than approving a final amount.

Fire rescue, ambulances and recruitment: BFP’s Kwan Tiu presented a roughly P3.4 billion package: restoration of P200 million for eight collapsed-structure rescue trucks; P1.8 billion for 74 more; P373 million for operations and Unified 911; P287 million for 82 ambulances; and 2,000 additional Fire Officer 1 recruits above the annual 2,000. He said doubling recruitment would address staffing needs in ten rather than twenty years. Rodriguez sought more local rescue units and manifested that he would later move approval of DILG and attached-agency budgets with the requested increases. The chair noted this; the round itself did not approve the budgets.

Sulu transition and personnel salaries: Rep. Munir N. Arbison Jr. asked about Sulu’s transition from BARMM to Region 9 and uncertainty among DILG personnel still paid by BARMM. Iringan said the implementing rules were signed and a guidance circular would follow; DILG had coordinated with Sulu LGUs since late 2025 and oriented field officers on local support and disaster programs. BARMM would continue paying affected personnel through year-end. For the local-government sector, salaries were included in DILG’s proposed 2027 budget; Iringan did not extend that assurance to other agencies.

Building permits delaying funded public facilities: Rep. Atty. Miro S. Quimbo said school and health-facility projects funded in the 2025 and 2026 budgets were stalled by repeated or changing local building-permit requirements. He sought DILG intervention after DBM referred him there, alleging that employees were being instructed to refuse applications. Iringan said compliant projects should receive permits and agreed to examine the matter. Quimbo would submit the records; Iringan would use them to determine departmental action. No permit issuance, disciplinary finding or case filing was reported.

School safety beyond the headline police increase: Rep. Roberto Nazal asked what the roughly P16 billion PNP increase would change in schools and proposed designated officers or teams, beginning in high-risk areas. Nartatez described the increase as about P15 billion, with roughly P12 billion for a pay tranche and much of the remainder for operations and capital needs. He emphasized community coordination and effective programs rather than promising one officer per school. DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Jed Patrick E. Mabilog described a peer-led youth public-safety program with education agencies, NYC and the uniformed bureaus, with a draft targeted for the following week and a hoped-for mid-September pilot at Camp Vicente Lim.

Online threats, drills and firearm accountability: On information-sharing about online groups, Salvahan described DICT/NTC coordination on harmful sites, a weather-delayed school attack drill, proposed tanod deployment and additional Unified 911 vehicles; he did not identify a specific foreign-agency exchange. Nazal then sought counts of firearm-storage cases and license sanctions. Nartatez cited investigations of the Tacloban and Zamboanga shootings and recommended reckless-imprudence charges, but supplied no aggregate counts. Nazal sought stronger storage safeguards, and the chair asked DILG to submit the legislative recommendations discussed.

Fire collections, equipment gaps and procurement: Nazal contrasted P4.3 billion collected in 2025, P1.684 billion spent and a P11.28 billion accumulated earmark with severe shortages: 107 municipalities without activated stations, including 64 without either station or truck, and deficits of 20,854 coats, 22,000 gloves and 36,000 hoods. Kwan Tiu said DBM provided only P1 billion annually and sought congressional support for fuller use of collections. On the 500-gallon-truck procurement, he said no bidding was underway because procurement was shifting to government-to-government arrangements for lower costs; the earlier disputed manufacturer-certification requirement would no longer apply in that approach. No release or completed contract was confirmed.

Field staffing and local public-safety needs: Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton sought DILG-funded assistants for overloaded local operations officers instead of reliance on LGU-paid staff. Iringan said workforce augmentation was a recurring regional recommendation in the optimization plan being prepared, but did not announce approved positions. Cayton also sought continued monitoring and interagency coordination around mining-related tensions in Kasibu, and fire trucks and stations for Nueva Vizcaya, offering supporting documents for the 2027 request. No specific mining action or local equipment allocation was confirmed.

Recruitment safeguards and BFP personnel gaps: Asked about reports of recruitment slots being sold, Kwan Tiu described a Region 3 entrapment following an applicant’s complaint, supported by CIDG. He cited online applications and examinations but acknowledged that misconduct had entered at the final stage despite safeguards. He promised recruitment based on merit and fitness. BFP cited an ideal national complement of 78,000 against a much smaller authorized strength and sought another 2,000 annual recruits above the existing 2,000. Cayton stressed that new facilities and trucks also needed personnel.

NTF-ELCAC barangay coverage and reduced allocations: Rep. Caroline B. Agyao asked about NTF-ELCAC beneficiary barangays and the reduction in support under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP). Iringan reported 5,608 beneficiaries since 2021 and 780 for 2025. After correcting the years and amounts during the exchange, he put the per-barangay allocation at P2.5 million for 2025, P10 million for 2026 and P5 million in the 2027 proposal. The chair requested the underlying data.

Eligibility, overlapping projects and implementation: Agyao questioned whether city barangays met ELCAC eligibility requirements and urged closer scrutiny of eligibility and greater attention to disadvantaged communities. Iringan said beneficiaries were barangays formerly influenced by communist groups and subsequently cleared by the AFP. He said local consultation identified priorities and local task-force coordination was intended to prevent duplication with sector-agency projects. LGUs implement the projects, DILG monitors them and DBM administers the Local Government Support Fund. Agyao urged avoiding duplication with health and agriculture agencies; the chair floated a larger DILG implementation role, without establishing a change in the existing arrangement.

Recurring floods, preparedness and class suspensions: Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc, M.D. supported stronger DILG supervision and implementation deadlines for LGSF projects, then asked how DILG was preparing LGUs for recurring flooding in Pampanga. Iringan described coordination with science agencies, hazard information, preparedness protocols and local monitoring. On inconsistent or late class suspensions, he said the executive order was under review but local chief executives retained the decision under existing policy. Ideally, decisions should use the 11 p.m. PAGASA forecast so families know before travelling to school; no new binding deadline was announced.

Water-rescue equipment for flood-prone communities: Bondoc asked for rescue training, boats and equipment targeted to repeatedly flooded areas. BFP said it was continuing local capacity building and had identified vulnerable localities. Watercraft and life vests were among planned purchases, with distribution based on geographic needs, but acquisition depended on additional funding. Bondoc pledged support for that funding.

Firearm custody, school security and crime data: Bondoc asked why children had obtained registered firearms and how barangay personnel could support school security given limited police staffing. Nartatez said most firearms recovered in the cited school incidents were registered, with one exception, and cases had been prepared against the custodians. He advocated stronger penalties for unlicensed firearms and community-police coordination for school security. PNP agreed to submit crime data; Nartatez recalled a 12% decline in focus crime after Safer Cities and about 25% over a year-on-year comparison. Bondoc requested listings for Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

Support for the budget and action against illicit cigarettes: Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand L. Hernandez manifested support for the DILG, PNP and attached-agency budgets. He particularly commended enforcement against cigarette smuggling and illicit trade, citing government revenue, legitimate businesses and youth health, and urged the campaign to continue. This was a statement of support, without a funding amendment or agency undertaking.

Additional budget requests and civil-society participation: Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing affirmed support for DILG and asked agencies to submit additional budget requests in the first half of the following week for consideration through BARC before plenary deliberations. She said the committee had received CSO questions for the first time that day, explained its reliance on CPBRD for coordination and daily submissions, apologized to groups that felt excluded and promised to press for a regular flow of questions. She then put forward questions from CODE-NGO.

Why retain LGSF alongside the National Tax Allotment: Conveying CODE-NGO’s questions, Suansing asked why a separate LGSF remained necessary after the increased NTA and how duplication was prevented. Iringan said the estimated P1.32 trillion to P1.4 trillion NTA remained insufficient when divided among LGUs with devolved responsibilities; LGSF supplemented resources for water, roads, electrification, health centers and other services. He clarified that funds go directly to LGUs and DILG monitors implementation. Suansing distinguished DBM’s vetting role from DILG’s monitoring and suggested referring the duplication question to DBM.

Monitoring funds, community oversight and participatory budgeting: Suansing asked about community participation, procurement safeguards and measurable outputs for the proposed P563.925 million LGSF monitoring allocation. Iringan described three tiers: local project monitoring committees including CSOs, DILG engineers and project evaluation officers, and third-party CSO or NGO monitoring. He also cited the Subay Bayan portal for project updates. On the P1 billion participatory-budgeting fund, he described water systems and evacuation centers for pre-identified municipalities lacking those services. The response explained existing arrangements but did not set out a new expansion plan or a complete set of performance and disclosure targets requested by CODE-NGO.

Red-tagging safeguards and complaint handling: Suansing relayed concerns about red-tagging, retaliation and exclusion and asked for independent grievance mechanisms and public reporting of complaints and outcomes. Calinisan said NAPOLCOM’s media-relations manual prohibited red-tagging with sanctions and that the commission would receive and act on complaints. No specific commitment to publish the requested complaint statistics was made in this answer.

Evidence for the SBDP increase: Suansing asked what needs assessments, project results, audit findings and independent evaluations supported the P9.74 billion SBDP proposal, and requested accessible project-level data. Iringan said the overall allocation covered more barangays while the proposed amount per barangay fell from P10 million to P5 million. He referred back to monitoring arrangements rather than supplying all requested performance evidence. Suansing said the committee would send DILG a copy of the CSO questions for further information.

DILG deliberations terminated: On Rep. Julienne "Jam" L. Baronda’s motion, the committee approved termination of the hearing on the proposed FY2027 DILG and attached-agency budget without objection. Presiding Rep. Arnie B. Fuentebella then carried the motion to suspend the committee hearing until September 1, 2026 at 9 a.m. Termination of this deliberation did not enact the proposed appropriations.