The administration party is no longer for cha-cha, or the majority of the members of the administration will no longer support the moves to change the charter. This new development was shared by Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Ronaldo Puno.

Kidnappings in the Southern part of the Philippines and insurgencies have been hogging the limelight for the past few years now. The Abu Sayyaf is often considered as the leading group and the culprit for these many kidnappings and the MILF on the other hand is the organization linked to many insurgency-related moves. The latest was the abduction of the three international Red Cross workers which were kidnapped last January 15 in Jolo Island. The good news is that all three were released after a few months of captivity, thus ending once again the kidnapping spree of the group.

Important national projects of the country are not only the domain of the elected national officials and executives. Local officials and executives should also play a role in the decision-making process and the implementation of these flagship projects and programs. These statements are at the core of what Secretary Puno’s take on the supposed role that the local officials and executives should play.

In a move to strengthen the police force in the country and as away to ensure the safety of the general public the Department of Interior and Local Government makes it a point to add around 3,000 police officers to their stable every year. This flagship program by the department should not come as a surprise since security and peace are two of the three major programs of DILG. The other main role of the department is to promote better local governance. This policy move by the department which is to add 3000 police men every year to the force is the subject of the new infomercial to be released by Secretary Ronnie Puno.

Loose firearms are often cited as major reasons why crimes in this country are growing. The Department of Interior and Local Government and Secretary Ronaldo Puno know this, and as a response the secretary calls for the regulation of the loose firearms. He urged the gun holders to avail of the one-month amnesty on the registration of the licensed guns. This amnesty program of the government starts October 1.

It is now easier for women and children to approach any Philippine National Police stations and get help without hesitation. Every police station around the country now includes Women and Children Protection Desk or the WCPD. This is actually part of the flagship programs of the Department of Interior and Local Government headed by Secretary Ronaldo Puno. And just this week, the secretary ensured that the WCPDs will efficiently deliver its services to the targeted clientele by establishing partnerships with a number of non-government organizations. And to make sure that the services are up to par, the department implements continuous trainings that will familiarize the police officers on the rights of women and children.

Do you want to know the kind of services that you can get from your nearest Philippine National Police Station and the Department of Interior and Local Government? If you are interested and want to maximize the services that can be delivered by the department, then what you need to check out is the DILG Citizen’s Charter. This is a document that spells the information on the frontline services that the department provides to the public.

Right after the capital city of Jakarta was disturbed by hotel bombings, the Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government lost no time in placing the country in heightened alert. Based on the reports, at least two improvised explosive devices had been detonated in the business district of the city near the Ritz-Carlton and the Marriot hotels. There was also that report that there has been extensive damage to the front of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The early reports indicated that nine were killed and around 50 persons were injured.

Secretary Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government has ordered that the peacekeeping forces in the island of Jolo should remain in order to ensure the safety of the island. The government has stepped up its offensives against the group after the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped three Red Cross workers. The more than 2000 peace-keeping forces composed of civilians and police were mobilized to cordon off the Abu Sayyaf group.

Malacañang has ruled that the Abu Sayyaf should not be granted amnesty, thus shooting down the proposal that was made by Senator Richard Gordon to offer the group this arrangement so as to achieve peace in the region. The new policy of the government on the Abu Sayyaf was announced by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita after consultations were made with the members of the Cabinet’s security cluster.