BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Provincial Peace and Order Council is set to approve the province’s Peace and Order and Public Safety or POPS Plan to guide multisectoral actions on the implementation of programs, projects and activities toward the reduction and prevention of crimes here.
Engineer Edgardo Sabado, Provincial Planning and Development coordinator, said the POPS Plan was a result of a series of consultations and workshops by the PPOC Technical Committee.
“This will serve as our basis in addressing major peace and order concerns and issues in the province. By maintaining our peace and order on a manageable level and status, the influx of investors as well as increase on economic development activities will thrive, thereby propelling our province toward progress and development,” he said.
Sabado said the POPS plan was already presented during the 1st Quarter Meeting of the PPOC, but more inputs from other government and civil society organizations are expected to be submitted to validate and finalize the plan.
The 2017-2019 POPS Plan is required by the Department of the Interior and Local Government from local government units to ensure the sustained and focused protection of villagers from crimes, emergencies and natural and manmade disasters.
The plan prioritizes the following issues and concerns: reduction on the prevalence of physical injuries, children in conflict with the law, rape incidents and violence against women and children, reckless imprudence, incidence of robbery and theft, illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions, increase of police-population ratio, eradication of illegal drugs, armed groups, reduction of calamity victims and fire incidence.
Other issues and concerns are conflict with mining companies, alleged human rights violations and filling-up of Disaster Risk Reduction Management positions within municipal local government units, and equipment and facilities.
“Once this will be approved by the PPOC, all requests for financial and technical assistance will be based on this plan. Requests which do not fall under the priority concerns and issues of the plan will be referred to other special bodies,” Sabado said.
A POPS plan is composed of the following elements: review of local strategic directions or the mission and vision of the LGU; peace and order situationer of the LGU; priority public safety challenges confronting the LGU; objectives, strategies, targets, indicators and baseline data; and policies, programs, projects, services and activities recommended for the LGU.
It was required by the DILG to strengthen peace and order in all LGUs amid the all-out war against illegal drugs in the country.