Isko is poster boy of DILG's ‘Disiplina Muna’ campaign

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday piloted its nationwide advocacy campaign on discipline in Manila City as part of efforts to sustain the progress achieved from recent road clearing operations.

The “Disiplina Muna” campaign seeks to include citizens in the government’s push for progress by enlisting their support in the road clearing operations, disaster preparedness and resilience efforts, implementation of the anti-smoking law, liquor ban, and ease of doing business act, tourist spots cleanup and anti-illegal drugs campaigns.

“Naisip namin, hindi puwedeng gobyerno lang lagi,” DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said during the launch. “Kailangan lahat tayo magsama-sama kung gusto natin ng tunay na pagbabago sa ating bansa.”

Malaya said the DILG chose to pilot its campaign in the nation’s capital (Manila) because of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s similar appeal for discipline from his constituents.

“In many of his speeches lagi niyang sinasabi, ‘You want change? Discipline yourself.’ So kaagad-agad, nag-gel kami. Hindi na namin siya kailangan paliwanagan,” Malaya explained.

Moreno said the launch of the campaign in Manila is both an honor and a challenge to residents.

“I hope we can achieve your expectations from us but if we fail, which we are not worried about, ipaalala niyo sa’min kung ano ang tama,” the mayor said.

The DILG will also implement the campaign in other cities nationwide.

The Disiplina Muna campaign will build on the DILG’s road clearing operations, after the agency said it was satisfied with the compliance of 1,148 out of over 1,600 local government units in the country to the order. 

In July, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered local governments to reclaim public roads. —LDF, GMA News