Department of Interior and Local Government

DILG is the Philippine government department responsible for overseeing local government units, ensuring peace and order, and promoting public safety across the country. It formulates and implements policies related to local governance, disaster risk reduction, and internal security. The department provides technical assistance and capacity-building programs to provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. It monitors compliance with national laws and standards at the local level, coordinating with other agencies to deliver basic services. DILG also leads efforts in community-based disaster preparedness and response, working closely with local officials. Its mandate includes supervising the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection, linking local administration to national security functions.

As a line department under the Executive Branch, DILG reports directly to the President of the Philippines and is headed by a Secretary appointed by the President. The agency’s distinguishing attribute is its regulatory and supervisory role over all local government units, making it the central link between national policy and local implementation. It possesses notable competencies in coordinating inter-agency responses during emergencies and in fostering good governance practices at the grassroots level. The department’s digital infrastructure was among the government systems affected by a widespread Distributed Denial-of-Service attack in July 2016, which disrupted numerous websites. This incident highlighted the need for strengthened cybersecurity measures within DILG and its attached agencies. DILG’s core function is to ensure effective, accountable, and resilient local governance throughout the Philippines.