Members of the Palawan Provincial Board have asked newly designated Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Myla V. Panganiban to help the province address concerns involving overseas employment, enforcement of provincial ordinances, and governance in remote municipalities.
The officials raised the issues after welcoming Panganiban during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday, July 21.
Among the proposals was the establishment of sisterhood agreements between Palawan and local governments in South Korea. These agreements could allow Palaweño farmers and other residents to join seasonal-worker programs.
Board Member Winston Arzaga asked Panganiban to help the provincial government open talks with South Korean local governments.
Arzaga said he had met with an official involved in the program at the Department of Migrant Workers and learned that several municipalities in Mindoro already had arrangements for seasonal workers.
“They were surprised that we have none of that program in the province,” Arzaga said.
He said the DILG played an active role in helping local governments in other provinces establish the necessary partnerships.
“Please pave the way so that we can establish this link with any of the local government units in South Korea,” he told Panganiban.
Arzaga said the program could provide temporary employment to farmers who do not have stable work throughout the year. He suggested that Panganiban consider it a banner program during her tenure.
Board Member Rafael “Junjun” Ortega Jr., meanwhile, asked the DILG to clarify whether ordinances passed by the Provincial Board automatically apply to municipalities and barangays.
Ortega cited the province’s mining moratorium ordinance, saying some local councils still wanted to endorse projects despite the provincial restriction. He said at least one municipality had issued an endorsement after the moratorium took effect.
“Mayroon po kasi akong personal na naharap na isang tanong noon pong imbitahin ako ni Board Member Jake Tan sa convention ng PCL. The question is, yung ang provincial ordinance po ba, is encompassing in nature pagdating po sa mga sub-states niya, Sangguniang Barangay at Sangguniang Bayan?” he asked.
“It’s a question of law. Noong tinanong ko po sa regional director, dalawa ang nakuha kong kasagutan. Base daw po sa Republic Act 7160, may sariling autonomy ang ating barangay at ang ating sangguniang bayan,” he added.
He said another legal opinion held that provincial ordinances should cover municipalities and barangays under the provincial government. To avoid legal uncertainty, the Provincial Board has been asking municipal and barangay councils to formally adopt provincial ordinances.
He urged the DILG to clarify how local councils should interpret and apply these measures.
Ortega said the clarification would help remove uncertainty and prevent local councils from taking actions that may conflict with provincial policies.
“Lalo na po sa katanungan pagdating po sa moratorium ordinance na ng lalawigan ng Palawan. Kami po ang nag-akda ng [mining] moratorium ordinance. Ngunit, ang tinatanong po ng mga sangguniang barangay sa amin na pinapadalahan ay yung iba po gusto pa rin mag-endorse,” he stated.
“May munisipyo nga po na nag-endorse pa rin sa kabila na meron ng moratorium ordinance,” Ortega added.
Board Member Al-Nashier Ibba also asked Panganiban to provide more assistance to small and island municipalities seeking to qualify for DILG governance awards.
Ibba said remote municipalities sometimes failed to complete or submit requirements on time because of their location. He noted that only a few Palawan municipalities had received such awards in previous years compared with other provinces in Mimaropa.
He asked the DILG to guide the municipalities and help improve their compliance.
Liga ng mga Barangay provincial president Ferdinand Zaballa pledged the cooperation of Palawan’s 367 barangays. He said close coordination between barangay officials and municipal local government operations officers was needed to carry out local programs.
Other members called for stronger implementation of Katarungang Pambarangay, which allows certain disputes to be settled at the barangay level before they reach the courts. Concerns were also raised about fire protection services and jail facilities in Palawan’s municipalities.
Board Member Ryan Maminta called for amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, saying some of its provisions no longer reflect present economic conditions.
Maminta said provincial governments had limited powers to raise revenue even though they continued to assist municipalities and barangays. He asked Panganiban to help bring the province’s concerns to DILG officials and national policymakers.
Panganiban said the DILG would remain a partner of the provincial government and Palawan’s 23 municipalities.
She committed to providing technical assistance, policy guidance and capacity-building in good governance, peace and order, disaster resilience, environmental management and local development.
“This is also my commitment with our Honorable Governor Amy Roa Alvarez that we shall strengthen our bid for the Seal of Good Local Governance along with the 23 municipalities of Palawan,” she said.
Panganiban also promised to maintain an open relationship with the Provincial Board and make the DILG accessible to local officials.
“We will remain accessible, responsive, and proactive in addressing concerns, sharing our best practices, and working alongside with you,” she said.
Panganiban was designated DILG Palawan provincial director effective July 8, 2026, following her stint as director of the agency’s Puerto Princesa City office.
She has worked with the DILG for 12 years and previously held posts in its Mimaropa regional office and Occidental Mindoro.
A Palawan State University graduate, Panganiban is a licensed environmental planner, holds a doctorate in public administration and is a Career Executive Service eligible.
