DILG absence in House hearing a ‘miscommunication,’ says Malaya

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday described as “miscommunication” the absence of its representatives during the July 30 House inquiry on the plight of locally stranded individuals amid the COVID-19 crisis, spokesman and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Friday.

“We wish to underscore that our absence was not and will never be intentional, but a result of miscommunication due to the fact that the DILG-Napolcom (National Police Commission) Center has been on lockdown since Monday,” Malaya said in a text message to reporters.

“The lapses in our legislative liaison system have since been resolved and we are prepared to address any concerns that the committee may have on the matter of Locally Stranded Individuals which the DILG and other government agencies under the umbrella of NTF COVID-19 have been addressing since the start of the global pandemic,” he added.

Malaya issued the statement in response to Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor who fumed at DILG after its failure to send a representative during the House committee on governance hearing about the issues on stranded individuals.

Malaya, likewise, said the agency apologizes for their failure to attend the House hearing.

He also assured that DILG will attend other House hearings if the agency would be summoned in the future.

“The Department has always abided by the summons of the Committee and we wish to assure the Members that we commit to attend future hearings that it may call,” Malaya said.

Lawmakers tackled the problems of stranded persons after reports of lack of social distancing among 6,700 passengers staying at Rizal Stadium in Manila.

The stranded individuals were part of the government’s transportation program, Hatid Probinsya which ferries individuals to their home provinces. DILG is one of the government agencies that help in the implementation of the program.

Of the remaining individuals inside the stadium, 48 were already infected with the coronavirus disease.

EDV