DILG tells govs, mayors: Form local transition teams before May polls
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded all incumbent local chief executives (LCE) on Friday, March 25, to form their respective Local Governance Transition Teams (LGTT) at the soonest time possible before the May 2022 polls.
DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III explained that this will ensure the smoother turnover of power to the next elected local officials.
He noted that the LGTT is supposed to be composed of the governors or mayors, department heads, secretary of the “Sangguniang Panglunsod (City Council) or Panglalawigan (Provincial Board)’’, DILG representative and one member from the civic society organization of a particular area.
“Ito pong mga taong ‘to (LCE), kailangan po, inaayos na po nila ang imbentaryo at listahan ng mga kagamitan at pagma-may-ari ng mga lokal na gobyerno at siyempre yung mga dokumento, kautangan, kontrata, mga COA (Commission on Audit) reports, at Governance Assessment Report (These personalities, they need to prepare the inventory and list of properties of the local government units (LGUs) and of course also the documents, financial obligations, contracts, COA reports and governance assessment report),’’ Densing said in an interview over ABS-CBN.
He insisted that it is urgent for the local government units (LGUs) to submit the important documents in an orderly manner to the next elected local officials.
"Kasi dito natin makikita 'yung lahat ng mga nangyari at gustong mangyari ng isang lokal na gobyerno at magandang maipasa ito doon para alam ng susunod na administrayson ng lokal na gobyerno kung anong mga kaganapang pang-gobyerno ang present doon sa kanyang bagong panunungkulan (Because this is where we can determine what one LGU has done or what it intends to do and it is important that it would pass on the documents to the succeeding administration of the local government to give them an idea on what governance related concerns are present in their new tenure),’’ he added.
The DILG has set April 7 as the deadline for the incumbent LCE to form their respective LGTT.
Meanwhile, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año assured that additional government troops will be deployed in 40 to 50 identified areas of concern with the start of the local election campaign on March 25.
Año noted that these hotspots or prospective hotspot areas are spread over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
“As far as we know, nasa more or less 40 to 50 lang naman itong areas na ito. Pagde-deploy-an natin ng additional uniformed troops. Iba’t ibang lugar ito, nakakalat. Mayroong Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon (there are only more or less 40 to 50 areas. We will deploy additional uniformed troops in these areas. These are different areas spread in the country. There are places in Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon),’’ Año said.
Some of these areas are in the Bicol Region, Northern Luzon and Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Año issued the clarification when pressed if the number of hotspots or suspected to be disorderly areas have increased as the election campaign for local posts will start on March 25.
He said the DILG will also monitor the compliance of the local campaigns to minimum public health standards or protocols against the spread of COVID-19.
"We are talking here of about 81 governors, 782 seats in the provincial boards, 146 city mayors, 1,488 municipal mayors, including the vice mayors, 11,908 municipal councilors and 1,650 for the city councilors," Año said.
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