Malacañang emphasized that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. does not want local officials adopting a relaxed or “chill” approach to their duties, particularly during natural disasters.

“First of all, the President does not want leadership that is just ‘chill.’ Work should be for the people because they rely on the government, especially in situations like this,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro stressed during a press briefing on Tuesday.

“We cannot say ‘just chill’ all the time. Work must come first, not vacation,” she added.

Castro’s remarks came amid the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) investigation into local chief executives who reportedly left the country despite a directive warning them of the imminent threat of Typhoon Uwan, previously classified as a super typhoon.

She was also responding to comments made by Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano, who, when asked about the approaching typhoon, said that PAGASA forecasts sometimes exaggerate situations and that people should “just chill.”

“PAGASA is always like that. Sometimes it causes anxiety to build up. It can make people nervous… For me, just chill. There is nothing we can do about it. Only God can stop the typhoon,” Albano said.

Castro disagreed with this approach, stressing that local officials must act responsibly and not treat imminent disasters lightly.

Malacañang said it is leaving it to the DILG to determine whether any local executives violated Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s directive ordering all elective and appointive officials to cancel foreign travel from 9 to 15 November.

Remulla earlier ordered the cancellation and suspension of all foreign travel by local officials to ensure their presence in typhoon-affected areas under their respective jurisdictions.

As of Tuesday, about 40 travel leaves had already been cancelled.