BPOCs reorganized in 357 Capiz brgys
ROXAS CITY – More than 75 percent of all the barangays in Capiz have already re-organized their respective Barangay Peace and Order Councils (BPOC).
According to Llanie Destacamento, Operation Services Chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Capiz, some 357 barangays here have already reorganized their respective BPOCs as of May 31.
Destacamento revealed that said barangays represent 75.48 percent of the total 473 barangays in Capiz that have put in place the mandated council.
DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno earlier called for the reorganization of barangay peace and order committees (BPOCs) nationwide in step with DILG efforts to strengthen its campaign against criminality and ensure public safety.
In a memorandum circular issued to local chief executives, Puno said BPOCs need to be reorganized following the election of a new set of barangay officials last year to maintain and enhance peace and order in, as well as guarantee the effective delivery of public safety services to, all communities nationwide.
Puno explained that each BPOC serves as the implementing arm of the city or municipality in carrying out their respective Integrated Area/Public Safety Plan and is tasked with supervising, coordinating and monitoring the operations of all community-based anti-crime activities undertaken in every barangay.
He suggested that the barangay public safety plan, which serves as the official planning document of each BPOC, should contain the major areas of concern, namely, crime prevention and control; counterinsurgency and terrorism; fire prevention and suppression; disaster management and control; and environmental enhancement.
"Considering that the DILG and local government units are jointly exerting efforts to maintain the viability of local institutions necessary for the effective delivery of peace and order and public safety services, there is a need to reorganize the BPOCs and to regularly monitor and evaluate them to ensure their functionality," Puno stressed.
Among the tasks of the BPOC is to initiate, coordinate and monitor the implementation of peace and order programs at the barangay level; monitor and check the nefarious activities of criminal elements in the community; and supervise barangay tanods in identifying constituents with strong deviant behavior for referral to the appropriate authorities. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)