LGUs’ peace and order councils ‘doing well’ since 2021 – Abalos
A TOTAL of 1,477 out of the 1,715 or a high 88.24% local government units (LGUs) in the country have been “doing fine” in carrying out their respective peace and order programs, Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said yesterday.
These LGUs, according to the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) chief, are complementing well with the current administration’s reels in further reducing the crime rate in the country with their functional and effective peace and order councils (POCs) since last year up to the present.
“Peace and order remain to be a critical contributors to a progressive economy. We recognize the efforts of these 1,477 LGUs to continuously deliver good performance in promoting programs and policies aimed at intensifying peace and order in their respective jurisdictions and protecting citizens from the bad elements of our society,” Abalos said.
With the Marcos administration relentlessly pursuing reducing criminality and sustaining peaceful, orderly, and safe communities, the DILG chief said it’s just one way to help reach this vision to ensure that POCs at the local level are operating and functioning efficiently.
He that the positive results of the POC performance audit are a clear manifestation of LGUs’ adherence to peace and order-related laws and policies.
Among the Regional POCs that gained functional status for 2021 are Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4A, MIMAROPA, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7, Region 9, Region 10, Region 11, Region 12, Region 13, National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and BARMM.
“POCs have played an integral role in the government’s campaign to go grassroots in fighting criminality, illegal drugs, insurgency, and violent extremism. It becomes an instrument for stronger collaboration between the administration and the LGUs in carrying out projects related to peace and order,” the former Mandaluyong City mayor pointed out.
Under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019–143, Series of 2019, POCs at the regional, provincial, city, and municipal levels are also mandated to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of programs, projects, and activities aimed at curbing anti-criminality, anti-insurgency, and anti-illegal drugs to ensure peace and order, and public safety.
