Parañaque City 2nd District Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has urged the government to institutionalize a rule suspending foreign travel for public officials during disasters and emergencies.
Yamsuan voiced his support for the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) order prohibiting local officials from traveling abroad ahead of Super Typhoon Uwan’s landfall in Aurora province.
He emphasized that the presence of local leaders and disaster response personnel is essential for timely and effective crisis management.
“As public servants, our priority should always be the welfare of our people. Unahin dapat ang kapakanan ng mga kababayan natin lalo na sa panahon ng parating na kalamidad,” said Yamsuan, a former DILG assistant secretary.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla had earlier directed all local officials to cancel or defer their foreign trips from November 9 to 15 to ensure preparedness and on-ground coordination. Yamsuan proposed turning this directive into a standing national policy.
He also cited a 2019 DILG memorandum that automatically cancels travel permits and leaves of absence for officials in calamity-affected areas, ensuring their availability during emergencies.