Philippine people collect fishing tools ahead of a storm (Photo: NYT)Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine government officials and employees will nolonger be allowed to travel abroad during disasters and emergencies such astyphoons from 2019, according to the Philippine Department of Interior and LocalGovernment (DILG).
This move is to ensure that mayors and other local government officials will notbe "missing in action" during emergencies and calamities, the DILGsaid in its statement issued on January 24.
“As we are guided by law, we will exercise it to its full extent to ensure thatlocal chief executives are where they are expected to be in times of disasteror calamities,” DILG Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya saidin the statement.
All approved travel authorities or leaves of absence of local officials in caseof a natural or man-made disaster or calamities will be revoked by the DILG.
In mid-January, the DILG endorsed administrative sanctions against five townmayors from the northern Philippine main island of Luzon before the Office of theOmbudsman.
The DILG said they did not find their explanations for being "missing inaction" during the disastrous typhoons in September 2018.
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Annually,an average of 22 tropical cyclones strikes this archipelagic country, of whicharound six to seven cause significant damage.
Also, the country is highly exposed to geologic hazards including earthquakesand volcanic eruptions. -VNA
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