DILG Urges LGUs to Pass Ordinances Supporting Safer Cities Initiative
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging local government units (LGUs) across the Philippines to pass ordinances that support the national Safer Cities Initiative, emphasizing that such local legislation is essential for ensuring consistent enforcement and public cooperation.
According to DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., LGUs have a legal mandate under the Local Government Code to promote general welfare, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and convenience. The agency reiterated that passing ordinances aligned with the Safer Cities Initiative would help formalize the policy at the local level, reduce confusion among law enforcers and residents, and strengthen community ownership of public safety efforts.
The Safer Cities Initiative, jointly launched by the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP), targets common sources of street disturbances and petty crime, including public drinking, topless loitering, late-night karaoke, and curfew violations for minors. Since its launch on April 6, 2026, the initiative has recorded over 119,000 violations within the first two weeks, with public drinking accounting for the largest share at 35,394 cases.
PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. Reported a decline in daily violators—from a peak of 13,139 on April 7 to 6,514 by April 19—attributing the trend to increased public cooperation and more consistent enforcement. He noted that the shift reflects a transition from fear-based compliance to voluntary adherence to rules, stating, “When people notice that we are fair and consistent, they follow the rules.”
The DILG continues to encourage LGUs to adopt supporting ordinances, citing their role in sustaining the initiative’s gains and expanding its reach beyond Metro Manila to other urban centers nationwide.