DILG: LGUs have no authority to suspend flights

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) are not authorized to suspend flights to and from their territorial jurisdictions, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday.

“Wala sa authority ng LGU ang magcancel ng mga airport flights, particularly domestic flights, because that belongs to another government department,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a press briefing.

(It is not within the LGU’s authority to cancel airport flights, particularly domestic flights, because that belongs to another government department.)

Año made the clarification after Davao City suspended all international and domestic air travel to and from the city as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“There must be coordination. There must be a dialogue. There must be an agreement,” Año noted.

He lamented how the sudden suspension of flights left some people stranded in various places.

“You’ll find a lot of people get stranded because some LGU officials suddenly declared that domestic flights in their respective areas will be canceled or won’t be allowed,” he said.

In the same light, Año noted those who had been stranded may pass through any province, even if it had imposed a community quarantine.

“For example kapag naglockdown ang border ng isang probinsya, hindi naman makakatawid yung mga stranded without passing the province, it has to be allowed,” he said.

(For example, if a province imposed a lockdown within its borders, those who are stranded cannot pass through without entering the province, it has to be allowed.)

Año also reminded local executives to inform the DILG and the Department of Health (DOH) before imposing a community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions.

“They have the option to impose general community quarantine. But before they can issue the enhanced or the lockdown, it has to be cleared with DILG and DOH,” Año said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has warned local officials who defy the guidelines on the month-long enhanced community quarantine that they could face administrative or criminal charges.

/MUF