PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has called for a meeting with all provincial governors, city and town mayors, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional directors, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) chief ministers and Barmm minister of local government for a dialogue Monday, February 10.
The meeting will be held at the the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
DILG-Western Visayas Director Ariel Iglesia confirmed this Friday, saying a letter was sent to all local chief executives, but he did not say what the agenda will be.
He said the novel coronavirus threat might be discussed during the meeting.
"Possible, it is my guess that issue on nCov will be discussed," Iglesia said.
He added that as regional directors, they are hereby directed to ensure the attendance of all governors, and city and town mayors from the region.
"No proxy shall be allowed," he added.
For local chief executives who cannot attend the meeting, a written justification shall be forwarded to the DILG, through the Bureau of Local Government Supervision.
As of 3 p.m. Friday, one hour past the deadline for the attendees to file their intentions to attend, 89 percent (1,522) of the total of 1,715 provinces, cities and municipalities from 17 regions have confirmed their attendance for Monday's meeting.
In Western Visayas, 82 percent (114) of the 139 officials from provinces, cities and municipalities have signified their intention to attend.
Monday's event will be Duterte's first meeting with local chief executives this year. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)