The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Wednesday directed local government units to strictly enforce no-build zones and land-use regulations in areas vulnerable to flooding and other hazards.

The order follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen measures keeping communities away from disaster-prone areas. The DILG said public safety must take precedence over political considerations.

No-build zones generally include easements and areas considered unsafe for habitation because of risks to lives and property.

The National Building Code requires buildings intended for human habitation to be located at a safe distance from hazardous areas, including streams and other bodies of water. Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, also calls for measures preventing settlements in high-risk areas.

The DILG said LGUs must ensure that development projects comply with land-use, building, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies.

The department is also mobilizing communities through its KALINISAN and Barangay at Kalinisan Day programs. As of May 2026, the initiatives had mobilized more than 588,000 participants and collected 38.86 million kilograms of waste from 1.5 million public sites nationwide.

The DILG said it continues to strengthen local disaster preparedness through Operation L!STO, which identifies critical actions that LGUs and communities must take before, during and after calamities.