Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday ordered the cancellation and suspension of all foreign travel of local officials to ensure their presence in areas affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) and other ongoing disasters.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directive covers all elective and appointive local officials, including governors, mayors, and barangay captains, from 9 to 15 November 2025. 

The move aims to maintain continuity in disaster response, recovery, and relief operations across affected regions.

Remulla said that about 40 travel leaves had already been cancelled.

“Those who are applying or about to leave, their travel leaves are cancelled and I personally talked to like Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, other Cebu officials and asked them please stay, there is a big typhoon on the way and there are some 40 travel leaves that I cancelled so no one was able to depart last 6 days, 7 days I think wala na nakaalis,” Remulla said in a television interview on Monday.

He explained that the DILG issued a sweeping memorandum prohibiting local officials from leaving the country while disaster operations are ongoing.

“Usually, those conducting travel leaves were municipal mayors and down, provincial board members were requesting the governor to allow them. While the city mayor and governors their going to ask permission from me, but nevertheless, we made all of them being under my department we issued a sweeping memorandum that all travel leaves are cancelled, hindi pwedeng makaalis ang mga tao ngayon (People can't leave now), especially the local officials,” he stressed.

Isabela Guv under probe

Meanwhile, Remulla confirmed that the department is investigating Isabela Governor Rodolfo “Rodito” Albano III, who attended an agricultural fair in Germany despite the nationwide travel suspension.

“I spoke with him on Saturday morning. So I think he left 6 or 5 days ago. I don’t have the records for sure, but when I talked to him, he was already in Germany attending an agri-fair,” Remulla said, adding that Albano had applied for travel leave a month earlier.

“I told him to go home. He said he is gonna get the first available flight home, but credit naman to the Isabela officials, they were very prepared and we were in contact with them during the OCD meetings, his vice governor is well-prepared,” the DILG chief added. 

Remulla said the DILG is studying possible administrative or disciplinary actions against officials who defy the travel suspension order.

“We have sanctioning powers and can recommend disciplinary measures,” he noted. 

The DILG reminded local officials that under the Local Government Code of 1991 and Republic Act No. 10121 (the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act), they serve as chairs of their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and are required to be physically present during all phases of disaster management.

Local governments were also directed to assist affected communities; reactivate Local Price Coordinating Councils to prevent overpricing; as well as coordinate with Regional and Provincial DRRMCs and DILG Regional Offices for unified response actions.

All DILG Regional Directors have been instructed to ensure full compliance with the directive nationwide.

“Visible, hands-on leadership from both elective and appointive officials is crucial in safeguarding communities and ensuring swift recovery,” Remulla stressed.