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DILG streamlines travel authority process for local execs, employees

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has eased the approval of foreign travel requests of local government officials and employees.

Administrative Order No. 47, s. 2026, signed by President Marcos allowed the Interior and Local Government Secretary to further delegate the approval of foreign travel requests of local officials and employees.

Previously, the authority delegated by the President rested with the SILG alone.

Under DILG Circular 2026-017, the Secretary remains the approving authority for all official and unofficial foreign travel of Provincial Governors, Highly Urbanized City and Independent Component City (HUC/ICC) Mayors, and the Municipal Mayor of Pateros.

The Secretary will also approve foreign travel of provincial, city, and municipal elective officials when the trip exceeds three months or takes place during an emergency or crisis.

For official trips of three months or less and when there is no emergency or crisis, DILG Regional Directors are authorized to approve the foreign travel of provincial, city, and municipal elective officials.

Regional Directors will also act on official and unofficial foreign travel requests of appointive officials and employees of the same local governments when the trip exceeds three months or occurs during an emergency or crisis.

For barangay in component cities and municipalities, DILG Provincial Directors are authorized to approve official and unofficial foreign travel of elective and appointive officials when the trip exceeds three months or takes place during an emergency or crisis. For barangays in HUCs and ICCs, such requests will be acted upon by the DILG City Director.

The revised approval mechanism took effect on September 7, 2026.

The DILG continues to process applications through its Foreign Travel Authority Online System (FTA OS), where applicants may submit the required documents electronically.

The new mechanism decentralizes the processing of certain foreign travel requests while retaining the Secretary’s approval authority over specified local officials and travel circumstances.

Families affected by Cebu rapid bus transit project remain unpaid

The claims for compensation of families affected by the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project remain under review as Cebu City officials work to determine the payments due to private property owners, with the project’s September 30 loan deadline fast approaching.

Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff of Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, said some affected families have yet to receive compensation for properties used by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

‘There are affected families that have problems because they were not given yet what is due to them,’ Siasar told reporters.

He clarified that the outstanding payments involve affected private properties under the DPWH, rather than claims being processed directly by the Cebu City government.

Siasar said the city has received communication on the matter and is now working to reconcile the concerns, including reviewing the list of affected families and the documentation supporting their claims.

He said Archival had instructed officials to look into the complaints and determine the appropriate compensation based on existing guidelines.

‘The mayor said, ‘okay, I will look at the complaints. And then, give me the list of the affected families. And then, as to the amount, as to how much, we will see if there is proper documentation. And then, if and when it is within the guidelines, we will consider it,” Siasar said.

While some affected families already have places to stay, Siasar said the city recognizes the need to address the compensation that remains due to them.

Asked whether funds would be downloaded to the local government so it could directly pay the affected families, Siasar said this would depend on the applicable guidelines and whether the claims qualify.

Siasar said he had received the latest communication on the issue only last week.

He added that a meeting with the mayor is expected, following an earlier discussion with Archival on the concerns raised by affected families.

The city government is also assessing how the matter will proceed, including whether the concerns would be appealed or addressed through the existing process.

‘We will reconcile,’ Siasar said, adding that the mayor’s office, together with the legislative side of the city government or the office of the vice mayor, would work to ‘cover all bases.’

‘We are moving forward in the preparation,’ he said.

The compensation issue comes as the September 30 deadline for the CBRT loan draws near, putting added urgency on the city’s preparations for the mass transport project. CBRT, a major public transportation infrastructure project for Cebu, requires right-of-way acquisition and affects private properties along its alignment.

Compensation and relocation of affected families have been among the concerns accompanying the project’s implementation.

Siasar did not provide a specific amount or number of families covered by the outstanding claims during the briefing.

He said the city would first have to review the submitted list and supporting documents before determining which claims may qualify for payment under the applicable guidelines. Carmel Pedroza

?2.48-B upgrade of digital support for National ID set

THE government is moving forward with a proposed P2.48-billion project to upgrade and operate the digital infrastructure supporting the country’s National ID system, with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) eyeing a public-private partnership (PPP) for its implementation.

Approved earlier this month by the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC), the Philippine Digital National Identity (PDNI) Project will cover the upgrading, operation, and maintenance of key National ID systems.

These include registration and card production, identity authentication, as well as the technical integration of banks, businesses, and other private entities that use the National ID to verify customers.

The PSA said the project is expected to make National ID registration more accessible and improve the efficiency of identity authentication services.

‘This is a huge win for the PSA. Through this partnership, we can harness the expertise and resources of the private sector while ensuring that the National ID remains firmly anchored in its public purpose-to provide Filipinos with a trusted and convenient means of proof of identity to access critical services,’ National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in a recent statement.

The ICC-CC approval allows the proposed PPP to proceed to the procurement stage, where other private companies will be invited to submit competing proposals.

As the original proponent, Unisys Public Sector Services Corp. will have the opportunity to match or improve the best competing offer under the comparative challenge process.

The P2.48-billion project will be implemented under a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) arrangement, with a six-month transition period followed by a 20-year concession.

Earlier, the PSA said around 97 million Filipinos had been registered for the National ID, leaving about 17 million still unregistered.

A significant portion of those yet to be registered are children aged 0 to 4 and overseas Filipinos.

‘The bulk of those who remain unregistered are overseas Filipinos. Before we always go to the Middle East, as a lot of Filipinos there are not registered. But because of the current security concern the PSA was not able to go there,’ Mapa said at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) budget briefing on Monday.

Mapa said P26.21 billion had been provided for the National ID system from 2018 through 2026, with about P24 billion already obligated.

The average cost of registering an individual is around P250 to P260, he added.

Vice govs, staff get adaptation fund access tips

THE Climate Change Commission (CCC) has given 33 vice governors and provincial legislative staff members instruction on how to help local governments (LGU) develop risk-informed proposals for the People’s Survival Fund (PSF).

CCC Deputy Executive Director Romell Antonio O. Cuenca briefed the provincial officials and employees during the Legislative Excellence and Development (LEAD) Program of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines.

The LEAD Program, administered by the Development Academy of the Philippines, is a 14-session legislative capacity-building program running from August to November.

The CCC session emphasized the work LGUs must undertake before preparing a PSF concept note or full proposal-including identifying their actual climate risks, determining which communities and sectors are most exposed, and establishing a credible basis for the proposed intervention.

‘Accessing the People’s Survival Fund begins well before an LGU writes its proposal. It begins with understanding the specific climate risks confronting its communities and identifying the intervention that can reduce those risks,’ Cuenca said.

The presentation covered the PSF submission, evaluation, appraisal and Board approval processes. Participants were also provided with 16 links to climate and geospatial information sources that their technical teams can use to strengthen the data and analysis supporting their proposals.

Participants’ questions centered on the application process and the preparations required of LGUs. The recorded session will be uploaded to the program’s online learning platform for officials and staff who were unable to participate live.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said provincial legislative bodies can play an important role in helping translate local climate priorities into properly designed and supported adaptation investments.

‘Local access to climate finance is not merely a question of completing forms. A sound proposal must connect the risk identified, the people and systems exposed, the intervention proposed and the resilience result expected,’ Borje said.

‘Vice governors and provincial boards can help create the enabling conditions for this work by supporting climate-risk assessments, strengthening local plans and investment programs, allocating resources for proposal development, and encouraging coordination among provincial, city and municipal governments,’ he added.

Established under Republic Act 10174, the PSF provides long-term financing for adaptation programs and projects of LGUs and accredited local and community organizations. It supplements annual government appropriations for climate change programs and supports measures responding to climate-related risks and vulnerabilities.

The CCC continues to provide policy guidance, technical assistance and capacity development to help LGUs formulate science- and risk-based adaptation programs aligned with the National Climate Change Action Plan and the National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050.

Concerns as FG extends work on first Niger Bridge by another week over incessant rainfall

THERE were concerns, on Monday, in Anambra State, as the Federal Government, again, extended the ongoing maintenance works at the first River Niger Bridge, by one week.

This followed heavy rains that continue to disrupt activities and sweeping across the state in the past one week till Monday morning.

The River Niger bridge was closed down by the Federal Government for two weeks to allow workers to carry out maintenance and repairs on the old bridge.

The contractor had complained bitterly about the poor lightening and sanitation along the bridge.

They lamented that the situation had affected works at night, as the security of workers and safety of materials cannot be guaranteed.

There were hours or heavy down pour across the state from Monday morning till about 3:00pm, forcing workers away from site while some potions that had received attention, had been affected by the one week constant rains.

The controller for works Engineer Timothy Emenike told newsmen in Onitsha that with the effects of the rain on the project, at least three dry days were needed for work to commence again, adding that in view of the circumstances, the date for the completion of the project has been extended by one dry week.

‘So, in view of what is on ground, we have extended the date for the completion of the project by one week depending on the weather and for now, we pray that we shall have three dry days for us to return to site,’ he said.

Emenike stated that after works on the bridge have been completed, the Minister for Works, Engineer Dave Umahi, would come on yet another project inspection for approval to be given for the reopening of the bridge.

Sultan Kudarat city turns to remote learning after Banga shooting

All public and private schools in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat have temporarily shifted to alternative learning modes following the recent deadly shooting at Banga National High School (BNHS) in neighboring South Cotabato.Mayor Lina Montilla ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes at all levels, from preschool to higher education, starting Sept. 21 until further notice.Under Executive Order No. 64, schools may conduct classes through online, modular, or other blended learning arrangements while authorities assess the security situation.

Gilas Women on a roll in 3×3

The Gilas Pilipinas Women’s 3×3, like their male counterparts, are on a roll in the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games with a stunning victory over powerhouse Mongolia, 17-12, and an easy one against Macau, 21-4, at the Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue on Tuesday.

Kacey Dela Rosa bucked an ankle injury to lead the Philippines past the higher-ranked Mongolians as the nationals carried the momentum against Macau to sweep their opening assignments in Group C.

The 2-0 start assured Gilas Women of a place in the play-ins while keeping its sights on the group’s top seed, which comes with a direct berth in the quarterfinals.

The men’s team also stunned Mongolia, 19-12, and lower-ranked Sri Lanka, 21-12, on Monday to make up for the Gilas Men’s disappointing performance that cost them the gold medal in these games.

The women’s 5×5 squad, on the other hand, suffered a 67-89 beating at the hands of host Japan for their first loss after beating Kazakhstanm, 86-58, and Hong Kong-China, 90-73, in Group A action.

Dela Rosa sprained her right ankle just two minutes into the game but still dominated inside to finish with 10 points and three rebounds.

‘It [injury] is not an excuse to stop fighting,’ Dela Rosa, 22, told One Sports. ‘I came back and we got the win.’

‘I saw my team and the opponents were up already, that’s where I got my rhythm…they need me inside,’ said the Ateneo standout who was part of the gold medal-winning 3×3 team in the Bangkok2025 Southeast Asian Games.

With Dela Rosa controlling the paint, the nationals erased an 8-5 deficit and unleashed a 10-3 run to move ahead, 15-11, with 1:03 left before holding off the Mongolians the rest of the way.

Kennan Ka added three points, while Amyah Espanol and Victoria Pasilang contributed two apiece to secure the victory for coach Anton Altamirano’s squad.

‘Mongolia is one of the top teams in the world…and the first game’s always the hardest, but we were able to really manage good possessions, especially when Kacey was down,’ said Altamirano, who also praised Dela Rosa for battling through the injury. ‘We made really good stops to get the victory.’

‘She’s [dela Rosa] a tough girl. She’s been through stuff like this. It’s a testament to her character and mental toughness,’ he added.

Pasilang and Ka took charge in the second game as the Philippines dismantled Macau, with Pasilang pouring in eight points and Ka seven, as Dela Rosa was given limited playing time.

Dela Rosa still chipped in four points, though, while Espanol delivered an all-around performance with two points, eight rebounds and five assists to complete the sweep.

The Gilas Women will shoot for the No. 1 seed on Wednesday when they face fellow unbeaten Malaysia at 5:05 p.m. Malaysia also finished opening day at 2-0 after beating Macau, 14-3, and Mongolia, 17-11.

The Philippines, however, sits atop Group C by virtue of a superior point differential.

Art Arbole has halfway lead for first time after firing a 67

Art Arbole used a hot front nine to carve out a three-under-par 67 and grab a one-shot lead over Jonel Ababa halfway through the P2.5 million ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic as the journeyman pro who traces his roots to Bukidnon is in prime position for a long-awaited maiden victory.

‘This is the first time that I have held the lead after two rounds,’ Arbole said in Filipino as he seeks to end a 14-year wait for a first pro title by taking a 132 aggregate into the pivotal third round at the tree-lined layout formerly known as Marapara.

‘I just hope that my game continues to come together. I just need to stay focused day after day,’ he continued as he leads the dangerous Ababa by a shot and a duo of former leg winners in Jeff Lumbo and Guido van der Valk, who both fired 67s, by three.

Bacolod native Albin Engino shot a 68 and wheeled into contention, just four shots off, even as ‘three-peat’-seeking Rupert Zaragosa cooled down by matching par 70 to be six behind and needing a big third round to matter on the final day.

Zaragosa has the chance to become the first player in the Philippine Golf Tour to win a stop three straight years, but bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18 slowed him down. He had a total of four bogeys in the second round.

The pint-sized Davao native has former PH Open champion Clyde Mondilla, Russell Bautista, Randy Garalde and Josh Jorge as company at 138, with Mondilla firing a second round 68 built on a front side 31.

Jorge shot a 71, Bautista a 70 and Garalde a second straight 69 as their group is a shot ahead of a three-man pack that includes Reymon Jaraula, who fired a 68.

Ababa, meanwhile, missed keeping in pace with Arbole after a bogey on the 18th for the second straight day. He shot a 68.

‘Marapara’s back nine is really tough,’ said Ababa, a former Order of Merit winner who is still grieving the loss of his wife earlier this year, in Filipino. ‘I missed so many greens on the back nine.’

Lumbo, chasing a second PGT title after ruling the South Pacific stop in Davao last year, erased the bitter memory of a triple-bogey 8 on No. 18 on Monday that marred an otherwise impressive 68, as his second round effort featured a string of four straight birdies from No. 4.

Van der Valk is likewise looking to snap a lengthy title drought.

Kibuli SS target coveted City Tyres Badminton Crown

Four days after the launch of the ninth City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge, Kibuli Secondary School are already looking beyond the speeches and towards the courts, where captain Akbar Oduka wants his team to reclaim the title when the five-day tournament serves off at Lugogo Indoor Arena on October 14.

Oduka says Kibuli will put in the work before the competition, which runs until October 18, as the school side targets another championship after what promises to be a competitive field featuring players from across the region.

The tournament, sponsored by Linglong Tyres, is expected to attract more than 120 players competing across school, university, senior, veteran, coaches and corporate categories, alongside Indian and a new Chinese category.

Crown in sight

Oduka’s ambitions are matched by veteran Kibuli player Mable Namakoye, who returns with unfinished business after finishing runner-up in last year’s women’s singles and winning the mixed doubles title.

Namakoye is targeting another strong showing in both events, while crediting badminton with playing a significant role in her life beyond the court.

She thanked City Tyres for sustaining the tournament, saying the sport had supported her studies and helped her build valuable relationships.

The tournament will feature school age groups from Under-10 to Under-19, giving younger players another opportunity to compete alongside more experienced competitors.

Shamika’s legacy

Africa’s leading player Fadhila Shamika will miss this year’s tournament because of international commitments, but her message at the launch underlined the role the competition has played in her own journey.

Shamika said the tournament gave young players an important platform to compete against one another, develop their ambitions and eventually raise Uganda’s profile internationally.

‘It all began with us playing against each other, and that’s when we realised we could elevate Uganda’s standing internationally,’ she said.

Now an established international player, Shamika believes more champions can emerge from the same pathway and hopes her journey will inspire another generation to take Ugandan badminton onto the global stage.

Bigger platform

Uganda Badminton chief executive Simon Mugabi said this year’s edition has expanded to five days and will bring all categories together, including corporate teams.

Corporate matches will be played on Friday at 6pm and Saturday at 3pm. City Tyres Marketing Manager Herbert Bashasha said the company will provide more than 100 trophies and tournament attire, while commending the Indian Association of Uganda and Linglong for supporting the sport’s growth.

He also recognised Mugabi’s contribution towards staging the tournament over the years. Paresh Mehta, chairman of the Indian Association of Uganda, said the event had evolved into a platform for developing badminton in Uganda and the wider East African region.

He said thousands of players had passed through the competition over its nine editions, gaining competitive experience while developing skills, discipline, sportsmanship, friendship and leadership.

More importantly, Mehta said the tournament had created opportunities for Ugandan players to develop towards international competition.

‘When we give our young players an opportunity to compete, we are not simply developing a sport; we are developing their confidence, discipline, friendship, leadership, sportsmanship, and their dreams,’ Mehta said.

And in a month’s time, the attention will firmly be on Lugogo, where the shuttlecocks fly from October 14 and the search for this year’s champions begins.

AT A GLANCE

Oct 14-18: Tournament dates

Venue: Lugogo Indoor Arena – Venue

120+: Expected players

Edition: 9th

Competition days: 5

100+: Trophies and tournament attire

Kampala businessman gets five years for Shs21m office theft

City Hall Court has sentenced businessman Bashir Bakora to five years in prison for breaking into the offices of VNG International (U) Ltd in Ntinda and stealing property worth more than Shs21 million.

Bakora was convicted of office breaking and theft after Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Nicholas Aisu found that the prosecution had proved its case against him beyond reasonable doubt.

His two co-accused, David Moses Ogwang and Tonny Ongin, who were working as security guards with SGA Security, were acquitted after the court found there was insufficient evidence linking them to the break-in.

The offences were committed between January 18 and 19, 2026, during an election public holiday when the company’s offices were closed but security guards remained on duty.

The stolen property included three Dell all-in-one computers valued at Shs10.62 million, an HP monitor, a Sony audio recorder, two tablets, a wireless mouse and Shs4.5 million in cash. The total value of the property listed under the theft charge was Shs21.455 million.

In his judgment delivered on September 17, Magistrate Aisu said the prosecution had established that the offices were unlawfully broken into and that the stolen property was later traced to Bakora.

Court heard that a Lenovo tablet belonging to one of the company’s employees was tracked to Kyanja using its GPS location.

Police subsequently traced the tablet to an apartment where Bakora was arrested.

A search of his residence led to the recovery of another tablet, a hard drive, a Sony audio recorder, headphones and other items belonging to VNG International, a Dutch organisation.

The court also heard that police found photographs of the stolen computers on Bakora’s phone.

Bakora subsequently led investigators to Sun City Plaza, where some of the computers had been sold to a dealer.

The dealer, who testified as a prosecution witness, told court that Bakora had sold him the computers after claiming that he had obtained them from an auction.

However, Magistrate Aisu said Bakora gave conflicting accounts about how he came into possession of the property.

The magistrate said the conflicting explanations demonstrated a guilty mind and rejected Bakora’s defence that he had lawfully acquired the items.

‘His shifting accounts prove he took the property through unlawful means,’ the magistrate said.

Court found that the stolen property had been moved from VNG International to Kyanja and later to Sun City Plaza, where some of it was displayed for sale.

The court therefore concluded that Bakora intended to permanently deprive VNG International of its property.

While sentencing Bakora, the magistrate noted that office breaking carries a maximum sentence of seven years.

He also considered that Bakora was a first offender and a family man, but said the offence was rampant and that he had not shown remorse during the trial.

The court sentenced him to five years in prison.

Bakora pleaded with the magistrate to reduce the sentence, but the court declined.

His co-accused, Ogwang and Ongin, were acquitted of the charges of office breaking, theft and neglecting to prevent a felony.

The magistrate said there was no evidence placing either security guard at the scene when the break-in occurred.

The prosecution had alleged that the two guards failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the theft after thieves broke into the offices.

However, the court found that there was no evidence that they had prior knowledge of the planned felony or that they were present when it occurred.

Magistrate Aisu also noted that an accused person who raises an alibi does not bear the burden of proving it and that the prosecution had failed to disprove the guards’ accounts.

‘None of the prosecution witnesses saw the accused persons within the premises,’ the magistrate said.

The court explained the right of appeal to all the parties.