IBA, Zambales — The Provincial Government of Zambales in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Zambales, successfully facilitated the Seminar-Workshop on Revisiting and Updating of Local Government Units’ (LGUs’) Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan on July 30-31 at Balin Sambali, this town.

Engr. Edwin E. Ebdane, officer in charge of the Provincial Planning and Development Office and head of the Provincial Technical Working Group, delivered the message of Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr.  He emphasized the significance of joint effort between the provincial government and national government agencies (NGAs) for the peace and order operations.

Meanwhile, Melissa D. Nipal, the officer-in-charge of DILG Zambales, highlighted in her message the proper planning and execution for the overall safety and security.

Three resource persons were provided by the DILG Regional Office III for the planning-workshop: Aldwin B. Reyes, assistant division chief of the Local Government-Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LG-MED) of DILG Regional Office III, discussed the POPS planning framework and led the workshop alongside Joanna Maureen M. Balingit who discussed DILG Memorandum Circular No 2019-143 regarding the Omnibus Guidelines for POCs.

On the other hand, Melvin C. Panlilio led the walkthrough in the Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan-Policy Compliance Monitoring System (POPSP-PCMS) and provided an in-depth discussion of the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2022-123 on the  appointment of Civil Society Organization (CSO) Representatives to the POCs and the approval of security clearance requests.

Paulin Johanne L. Reyes and Aljon S. Bautista of DILG-Zambales shared the general observations, gaps, and recommendations based on the 2023 Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) and Peace and Order Council (POC) initial audit results, respectively, which are valuable inputs in planning initiatives for the upcoming years’ assessments.

This will also serve as reference for the preparation of the PPAs in revisiting and updating of LGU’s POPS programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) that are aligned with the national directives.

Workshop participants from the 13 municipalities and the the provincial government of Zambales included LGU POC/ADAC/POPSP PCMS focal persons, provincial and municipal planning and development coordinators, and budget officers.

They were joined by municipal and provincial representatives from key agencies including the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Armed Forces of the Philippines, which are actively involved in ensuring and maintaining peace and order in the province.

With this initiative, the DILG aims for LGUs to develop and implement strategies that promote peace, order, and public safety for all residents of Zambales. (DILG-Zambales Press Release)