Parañaque 2nd District Representative Brian Raymund Yamsuan has expressed his support for the directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ban the foreign travel of all elective and appointive local officials in preparation for the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan, and said that this should be the norm every time a disaster is about to strike.
Yamsuan, who is a former DILG official, said the physical presence of local chief executives and other personnel of the local government units (LGUs) involved in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) efforts is necessary to ensure swift and efficient response before, during and in the aftermath of disasters.
“As public servants, our priority should always be the welfare of the people. Unahin dapat ang kapakanan ng mga kababayan natin lalo na sa panahon ng parating na kalamidad,” said Yamsuan, a former Assistant Secretary of the DILG.
Yamsuan lauded DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla for ordering all elective and appointive local officials to cancel and suspend their foreign travel from November 9 to 15 to ensure that they would be able to lead on the ground in their respective areas during pre-disaster preparations for Super Typhoon Uwan as well as for response and recovery operations.
“Our suggestion is for Secretary Remulla’s directive to be the standard rule for all elective and appointive local officials whenever a disaster is about to hit or any emergency occurs in their respective areas of jurisdiction,” Yamsuan said.
Yamsuan recalled that the DILG also issued a memorandum in 2019 which automatically recalls all foreign travel authorities and leaves of absence of local officials in areas affected by calamities to ensure that they would be in their posts during these times and other emergencies.
Under the Local Government Code (Republic Act 7160) and the Philippine DRRM Act (RA 10121), the local chief executives at the provincial, city and municipal levels act as chairpersons of their respective local DRRM councils.
