Camsur coastal barangays hold tsunami simulation drill

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Camarines Sur Provincial Office is enjoining all concerned local government units to support their disaster resilience advocacy, particularly the OPLAN Listo.
 
The project aims to equip the LGUs with information on the appropriate actions they should implement, days prior to the occurrence of any calamity.
 
One of the department’s proposed activities is the conduct of Listong Pamayanan Community Simulation Drill for Tsunami for barangays along the Eastern seaboard.
 
Selected communities shall undergo an on-site and actual tsunami simulation drill and come up with a barangay preparedness plan, which includes an evacuation scheme , slated in the upcoming month. 
 
In Camarines Sur, 38 coastal barangays were identified: 13 from Garchitorena, 9 from Siruma and 16 from Caramoan. There will be 10 participants per barangay composed of Punong Barangay, Barangay Kagawad appointed as Committee Chairman on Community Disaster Preparedness and Eight (8) members of Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC).
 
Aside from the coastal barangays, DILG also targeted communities along the Major River Basin (MRB) and designed the training on the enhanced Listong Pamayanan module in selected barangays in the province.
 
Activities include on -site and actual Simulation Drill for flood and landslide and preparation of barangay preparedness plan/ evacuation plan).
 
The MRB project will cover 484 barangays, 189 of which are identified as flood/ landslide prone areas and 48 barangays to be trained. The training will be conducted in 3 batches.
There will be 10 participants for every barangay consisting of the Punong barangay, Barangay Kagawad appointed as Committee Chairman on Community Disaster Preparedness, Barangay Health Worker and seven (7) members of BDRRMC.
 
The aforementioned activities are aligned with the DILG’s advocacy to institutionalize local protocols which will be implemented by affected barangays. It aims to ensure that disaster preparedness and effective response are in place before and after the occurrence of any calamity.

(Reposted from Philippined News Agency website.  Original title: DILG enjoins LGUs to support Operation Listo) LSMacatangay-PIAV/Camarines Sur.  Photo credit: Twitter.com

VP Leni against arming barangay officials

By Alexis Romero

Vice President Leni Robredo opposed yesterday President Duterte’s proposal to arm village officials.

“I’m not in favor because this is not the mandate of barangay officials. Barangay officials perform executive functions... We have peacekeeping institutions... the police... the military,” Robredo said in an interview in Naga City.

Robredo said arming barangay officials would not address local peace and order problems.

Opposition members said the proposal would also create private armies and a culture of violence.

Duterte said he “might consider” arming barangay chiefs even as he vowed to support those who would get in trouble for helping in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Malacañang said the proposal to arm barangay officials is still under study.

“It will be subject to the requirements of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philipine National Police)... It is still being studied by the President and has not been implemented,” Roque told a press briefing. 

He said the President is aware that government-issued firearms might end up in the wrong hands.

“I think the PNP has the discretion on who should be given gun licenses and permits to carry...Those with bad record would not be given (permits),” Roque said.

(Reposted from Philippine Star. Original title: Leni Robredo Don't arm barangay execs  Photo credit: Office of the Vice President files

DILG warns barangays against real threat of terrorism

Scores of newly-elected barangay chairpersons from the Calabarzon provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon troop to the Sta. Rosa City Sports Complex for the Regional Summit and Mass Oath-taking rites held last Thursday, June 14, 2018. 

By Saul Pa-a

A Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) executive has called on newly-elected village chiefs to cooperate and remained vigilant amid the continuing threat of violent extremism and to never compromise security as everybody’s concern.

DILG Assistant Secretary for Peace and Security Alexander L. Macario made the call during Calabarzon Barangay Leaders’ Regional Summit and Mass Oath-taking at the city sports complex here, where some 4,018 newly-elected village chairpersons in the Calabarzon Region comprising Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon attending.

" I congratulate and salute all of you newly-elected barangay captains, but let me tell also that our Calvary is set to begin this afternoon. You are the key official in-charge as barangay chiefs, therefore exercise your decisiveness, prudence, due diligence and judgement to report any suspicious activity or persons in your jurisdiction as part of good governance,” Macario said.

He said the barangays have been confronted over the years with the threats of armed groups like the communist insurgency and terrorist group and confirmed the continuing threats of violent extremism and terrorism in our midst.

“All communist rebels have wrecked havoc on the Filipinos especially scores have been murdered in bombings, assassinations, kidnapping, including attempts and executions,” he said.

Violent extremism, he said, is a diverse phenomenon and it is neither new nor exclusive to any region, nationality or system of beliefs, that even up to now there is no clear definition of violent extremism.

He said the US and Australia have offered their definition on “violent extremism as a belief or action of the people to encourage, condone, justify or support the commission of a violent act to achieve political, ideological, religious and economic goals.”

He told the barangay captains that “all terrorists are extremists, but not all extremists are terrorists” citing lessons learned over the recent Marawi City siege.

He presented the photos through his slide presentation of the Maute brothers who invaded Marawi City last May 23, 2017 describing the brood as belonging to a rich family.

“No one ever thought that the brood are terrorists because they are rich and some of their family members have studied abroad,” he said.

To the surprise of the crowd, Macario’s revelation said they were able to retrieve passports of the Maute brothers which traced to an address that was from Tanza, Cavite.

The passport sported a different name as a religious leader of the Muslim faith-based group and a “balik-Islam” (converted to Islam) and was one among those killed in the skirmish between the enemies of the state and the government troops.

He also cautioned the barangay leaders on the indoctrination and teachings in schools as prone sites for teach-ins by the extremist groups and even in places of worship.

“Nagaganap din ang mga radicalization sa ating mga public and state universities (radicalization also happens in our public schools and state universities), ” he confirmed as he urged barangay captains to also monitor what is being talked around in their respective communities by going around, familiarizing with community members and knowing their constituents’ activities.

He encouraged barangay leaders to always be vigilant as even the ISIS and radicals actually made use of the social media by recruiting netizens to join their cause by offering huge money and the promise of good life.

He said the collateral damage wrought by the terrorist-extremist group in Marawi City, which include loss of lives from the soldiers, civilians and the enemies of the state; damage to properties; residential areas and businesses; displacement of residents and the effects of evacuees in the relocation sites; and the PHP70 billion initially earmarked by the government in the reconstruction and rehabilitation in the war-torn Lanao del Sur Islamic capital city.

“Sana yung pera na PHP70 bilyon mapupunta para sa development ng ibang mga areas, pero napupunta na doon sa Marawi at hanggang ngayon nasa evacuation centers pa rin ang mga tao doon (The PHP70 billion would have been channelled for development projects in other areas, but this fund was allocated instead for Marawi and up to now the people there are still in the evacuation centers),” he said.

He attributed the factors that led to the Marawi City siege due to weak or failure of local governance especially in the barangays.

He pointed out the lessons learned from the Marawi City clash citing from three groups of barangay captains during their probe - the first group of village chiefs who did not know what was happening in their areas of jurisdiction.

For the second group, these barangay captains who knew all along of what was happening but they simply ignored the incidents because these did not concern them at all as they were preoccupied with getting on with their private business interests.
On the other hand, the third group refers to those who supported and even joined the cause of the Maute terrorist group because they were politically affiliated.

“Sana tayong mga nasa barangay magsilbi tayo ng maayos na walang halong political (We should serve our barangays above political interests),” he urged citing the need to deliver right public service to constituents and practice good governance.

He underscored the eight elements of good governance such as the rule of law; transparency; responsiveness; consensus-oriented; equity and inclusiveness; effectiveness and efficiency; accountability and participation.

He said the fight to violent extremism is through the rule of law and accountability that are interrelated to each other and any missing element could weaken good governance.

He propounded that the ways to avert extremism is through community involvement; collaboration between civilian populace and the police, military and security forces; security awareness of the community and good governance.

(Reposted from Philippine News Agency website. Original title: DILG rallies barangay leaders' support vs. terrorism, extremism) Photo credit: Saul Pa-a.

Digong tells Central Luzon punong barangays to ensure BADAC impelementation

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administer the oath of the newly-elected Punong Barangays of Central Luzon during a ceremony at the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga on June 12, 2018. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, June 12, instructed the barangay captains in Region III (Central Luzon) to ensure the establishment and operation of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC).

In a ceremony at the ASEAN Convention Center here, President Duterte swore in 2,854 newly elected punong barangays.

“As you advocate for the sectors you represent, I enjoin the newly elected barangays to ensure the implementation of the anti-illegal drug efforts such as the establishment and operation of their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council,” he said in his speech.

At the same time, the Chief Executive said he is considering allowing the village chiefs to carry firearms.

“I might consider arming you. If I think in my assessment and evaluation, at tatanungin ko ‘yung police pati ‘yung intelligence community, if you are really into it, the crime, I will support you and I may grant you possession and to carry your firearms,” he said.

During his speech, the President expressed gratitude to the village chiefs for accepting the challenge of public service “at a crucial moment in our nation’s history.”

“As you take your oath of office and swear in front of your family and supporters, and may I add, before God and people, I trust that you will uphold excellence, accountability, and transparency in your respective offices,” he said.

The Chief Executive told them to set aside personal interest and reminded them of the obligation to serve their countrymen with humility and lead with integrity.

“Keep in mind that you are operating within the context of a nation. Let us set aside our personal interest as we selflessly and tirelessly fulfill the duties and responsibilities that come with our positions,” he said.

“We owe it to the Filipino people to serve with humility and lead with integrity. Our fight against criminality, corruption, and illegal drugs continues,” he further said.

He also explained to barangay captains that in order to create progress that is truly substantial and sustainable, “we must demonstrate the passion and determination to secure and improve the lives of our people.”

“I have the greatest trust in the experience and ability that each one of you possess. Together, let us use this opportunity to bring valuable and meaningful reforms in our bureaucracy so that we can get rid of society’s ills and usher in real and lasting change for the benefit of the people,” he added.

(Reposted from PTV News. Original title:Duterte enjoins new village chiefs to ensure implementation of efforts vs. illegal drugs   Photo Credit: Presidential Communications)

Bacolod barangay officials urged to have disaster plan

By Nanette Guadalquiver

Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino urged village officials here to come up with a barangay integrated disaster management plan.

Tolentino made the call after he cinducted into office more than 400 officials from the city’s 61 barangays during the ceremony held at the SMX Convention Center on Saturday afternoon.

“I urge you one thing, I ask you one thing. I ask whoever will be elected Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president to sit down with the 60 members to chart a barangay integrated disaster management plan,” he said.

Tolentino said that even if some villages have smaller funds, all the barangays can pool their funds or resources together to come up with a viable plan.

“It will then be easier for City Hall, in case disaster strikes. You can start that through planning,” he added.

Tolentino also reminded the village officials to stay true to their oath as they assume office this coming June 30.

“Everything you need to do is included in your oath of office, it’s not in the Local Government Code. Middle of your term, you’ll get lazy. Tomorrow, July 1, July 2 you’re still at it, but when 2020 comes, maybe some of you will already get lazy. Just remember your oath,” he said.

He suggested to the barangay officials to have a photocopy of their oaths of office.

“Put one at the barangay hall and the other one at home, but always remember what is written in your oath,” he added.

Tolentino also pointed out that since the oath of office ends with “so help me God,” elected officials invoke the blessings and the guidance of the Almighty.

“Has it ever occurred in your minds that God is with you in fulfilling your duties and responsibilities,” he told the barangay officials. “We should now fuse our faith and flag. They should go together because in your oath, there’s ‘so help me God.’”

Tolentino also informed the village officials that they will also have a regional oath-taking before President Rodrigo Duterte at a yet unscheduled date.

“(The President) will reiterate his support to the barangay officials and also to the Sangguniang Kabataan officials,” he added. 

(Reposted from Philippine News Agency website. Original title: Village officials urged to come up with viable plan for disaster management )