Palace: No extra effort from DILG to push for Cha-cha amid COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — There is no extra effort on the part of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to push for charter change, Malacañang said Monday.

During an online press briefing, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the agency’s focus remains on its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response.

“Ang pagkakaintindi ko, they’re not exerting any effort naman po, any additional effort para isulong yung charter change during this time of COVID-19,” Roque said.

(From what I understand, they’re not exerting effort or any additional effort to push for charter change during this time of COVID-19).

“Sa akin po, it’s always been a mandate of DILG. They should do it. Otherwise, makakasuhan sila ng dereliction [of duty] pero at the same time, makikita naman po na ang DILG, ang primary attention nila nakatutok dito sa COVID-19,” he added.

(For me, it’s always been a mandate of DILG. They should do it. Otherwise, they will be charged with dereliction, but at the same time, we can see that DILG’s primary attention is focused on COVID-19.)

Over the weekend, there were reports that the DILG was gathering two million signatures to back amendments to the Constitution.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, however, denied the said campaign and said the agency “never” did anything as such in time of the coronavirus pandemic.