Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Viral DILG Class Suspension Announcements
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President called on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) “to be professional” in the announcements posted on their official account.
Currently, not only the local government units (LGUs) but as well as the DILG has the authority to declare a class suspension. The said authority was confirmed by Malacañang press secretary Dave Gomez. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla wanted a centralized system with regards to class suspension to avoid delays which could result to the students getting caught amid the flood or heavy rains.
Previously, Marcos Jr. was not able to grant the authority right away. Malacañang claimed that the proposal must be studied first. The Palace instructed the LGUs to be swift in making declarations about class suspensions. The country is currently in the season wherein storms hit the nation and the Southwest Monsoon continuously bring rains which could result to frequent class suspensions.
After the President gave the interior department the authority to make Walang Pasok announcements, Laguna Governor Sol Aragones and DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla were criticized for the calamity-related announcements posted. The casual way of announcing a class suspension did not sit well with many netizens including some celebrities.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte who is currently in The Hague, was asked about the viral class suspension announcements of the DILG. Based on a post on Inquirer, the Vice President explained that the government office and the official leading it allegedly have different voices. She compared the interior department with her office.
“Tulad lang din ‘yan nung sa Office of the Vice President. Merong Vice President at merong Office of the Vice President. Iba ‘yung institusyon, iba ‘yung tao. Kaya kami merong spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President kasi ‘yung institusyon meron silang mga ginagawa na trabaho, may projects, may serbisyo, at merong bosses… Kapag nandun ka, makikita mo very professional ‘yan sila. Pero pagdating naman sa vice president, ako, ‘yung tao, iba din ‘yung boses ko,” the Vice President said.
According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, she really checked the post if it was posted in the official account of the DILG. Based on the report, she stressed that the people in the interior department has to exhibit professionalism since the announcements are posted in the official account of the government office.
“So galing ‘yan sa DILG official account, they have to be professional. The person has the freedom of expression. An institution does not have the freedom of expression,” Duterte said.
Still in The Hague, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte recently reacted to the “floodwater” remark of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. She also slammed the government’s efforts in addressing the flood problem in the country.