DILG Aurora PREPARE HUB

PRESS RELEASE

DILG to Coastal LGUs: Establish Greenbelt Zones to Fight Food Insecurity, Disasters

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging coastal local government units (LGUs) to establish greenbelt zones as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s call for food security and climate-resilient communities.

Issued through Memorandum Circular No. 2025-066 dated July 7, 2025, the issuance emphasizes the role of greenbelt zones, composed of mangroves and beach forests, as natural barriers against storm surges and coastal flooding, while also serving as vital nursery grounds for fisheries and aquaculture.

The DILG calls on LGUs to identify priority areas for greenbelt development, particularly densely populated and hazard-prone coastal zones, including those legally designated as protected marine areas. LGUs are tasked to lead in the rehabilitation and reforestation of degraded sites, and enforce environmental safeguards such as bans on mangrove cutting, shoreline encroachment, and destructive fishing practices.

The circular also enjoins LGUs to enact ordinances declaring greenbelt zones as protected areas or Local Conservation Areas, and to integrate a Coastal Greenbelt Management and Action Plan into their Comprehensive Land Use Plans, Local Climate Change Action Plans, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans.

As frontliners in disaster risk reduction and environmental governance, LGUs are in a strategic position to lead local adaptation efforts and help build food-secure, climate-resilient coastal communities.

#DILGNatin

PRESS RELEASE

DILG Rolls Out “Listo si KAP” to Strengthen Barangay Disaster Preparedness

In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s call for safer and disaster-resilient communities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched Listo si KAP (Komunidad at Punong Barangays), a comprehensive disaster preparedness and response framework tailored for barangays.

Building on the multi-hazard response plan Operation L!sto, Listo si KAP provides barangays with protocols to help them better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The initiative promotes heightened vigilance during the pre-disaster phase, outlines critical actions for imminent hazards, and guides communities in conducting post-disaster needs assessments.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 2025-035, the DILG designated the existing Barangay Development Council as the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) Council, responsible for approving the Barangay DRRM Plan and recommending emergency measures such as preemptive evacuation. The Barangay DRRM Committee (BDRRMC), meanwhile, will function as the LDRRM Office tasked with crafting and executing disaster risk management programs at the barangay level.

Among the BDRRMC’s responsibilities during the preparedness phase are the conduct of regular disaster drills, ensuring the availability of emergency equipment and supplies, and auditing critical infrastructure. During the response phase, barangays must activate operations centers, manage evacuation sites, and coordinate search and rescue efforts.

Post-disaster, BDRRMCs are also expected to assist in damage assessment, rehabilitation efforts, and engage various sectors in crafting sustainable recovery solutions.

With Listo si KAP, the DILG affirms its commitment to empowering barangays in building disaster-resilient communities across the country. 

#DILGNatin