BAGUIO CITY, Dec. 8 (PIA) - - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognized Barangay Dalupirip in the municipality of Itogon, Benguet as the Most Outstanding Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC) in the Cordillera Administrative Region(CAR) this 2012.
The awarding, held during the fourth quarter Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (CRPOC) meeting, was spearheaded by DILG-CAR regional director John Castañeda, and assisted by CRPOC Chair and Ifugao Governor Eugene Balitang, Police Cordillera Director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan.
Dalupirip BPOC members headed by Punong Barangay Ramon Cariño received the plaque of commendation and P20,000 prize.
Other Cordillera BPOC awardees were Barangay Ambassador Tublay, also in Benguet and Subusob in Sallapadan, Abra who bagged second and third places, respectively. Aside from the plaque of commendation, cash prize of P15,000 were awarded to Ambassador and P10,000 for Subusob.
Special award was given to the BPOC of Lourdes Extension Subdivision in Baguio City with plaque of commendation and a P5,000 cash prize.
The BPOCs were rated on the following criteria: 40 percent on DILG Memorandum Circular no. 2008-101 - Re-organization and guidelines in monitoring the functionality of BPOC, as per their organization, meeting,policies/plans/budget and accomplishment; 55 percent on DILG MC no. 2005-84 - Recognition of the outstanding BPOC on Crime Prevention in terms of service delivery performance, effectiveness of the plan, support system and sustainability; and five percent for the packaging of the report.
According to DILG, the nominees for the Outstanding BPOCs were assessed by representatives from the Police Regional Office, National Police Commission, the Northern Luzon Federation of Cooperative Development Center, Inc. and the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) from the non government organizations/ peoples organizations.
For diligently guiding the BPOCs, the municipal DILG officer of Dalupirip was given cash incentive of P3,000 while the municipal DILG officers of the other awardees were entitled to a P2,000 cash incentive each.
Castañeda, in a statement, explained that the DILG-initiated Search for Most Outstanding BPOC, is part of the agency’s thrust to strengthen Peace and Order Councils at the local or community level. It primarily aims to recognize and reward the outstanding performance of the BPOCs in the promotion of peace and order at the barangay level.
He further explained that the promotion of peace and harmony is a concern of everyone. While there are national government instrumentalities tasked to address criminality and other forms of lawlessness, local authorities are equally responsible for maintaining peace and order in their communities as provided for under the general welfare provision of the Local Government Code.
The functions of BPOCs include monitoring and checking the nefarious activities of criminal elements; identifying barangay constituents with strong deviant behavior for referral to appropriate authorities; formulating plans and recommending such measures which will improve or enhance peace and order and public safety in their area of responsibility; and monitor, coordinate and supervise the operation of all community-based anti-crime movements within the barangay. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)