Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Chairperson Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. convened the meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) at the Conference Hall, Zambales Hotel, Zambales Sports Complex, Iba Zambales last April 15, 2014.  This is the first PPOC meeting of the province for CY 2014.  This event was made possible thru the effort of the DILG led by Provincial Director Armi V. Bactad, CESO V, PPOC Head Secretariat in close coordination with the Provincial Government.

 

   Majority of the PPOC Members were present during the meeting including SSupt. Manuel Manalo Abu (Philippine National Police), Lt. Col. Gilmar N. Galicia (Philippine Army), Leonila T. Baluyut (DTI), Engr. Edward Ricardo G. Ramos, DPWH, Nelda D. Maycong (PPO 1st District, DOJ), Romulo Manangan (PPO 2nd District, DOJ) and Bishop Virginio Ducos (Hiyas ng Pag-Asa).  Representatives from the BFP, Provincial Prosecutor-DOJ, PSWDO, and DPWH also attended the said meeting.

   Other key persons in attendance were Vice-Governor Ramon G. Lacbain II; Mayors Doris Manuiquiz-Jeresano (Botolan), Ronaldo F. Apostol (Cabangan), Napoleon E. Edquid (Candelaria), Jose Angelo M. Dominguez (Castillejos), Jun Rundstedt C. Ebdane (Iba), Desiree S. Edora (Masinloc), Generoso F. Amog (Palauig), Estela D. Antipolo (San Antonio), Carolyn S. Fariñas (San Felipe), Peter T. Lim (San Narciso), Jose F. Rodriguez (San Marcelino) and Consolacion M. Marty (Sta. Cruz)  The mayor of Subic was represented by LGU employees.  Lead agencies such as the DILG, PNP and BFP along with the provincial government’s department heads were also present during the PPOC meeting.
 
   The meeting was highlighted with the presentation from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Army (PA) and the PNP in maintaining peace and order in the province.

    A ceremonial awarding for the first ever Governor’s Award, the Search for Outstanding Public Officers in Zambales and 2014 Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives and Awards took place wherein the following were adjudged winners:  SFO2 DOMINGO BAUGAN - Most Outstanding BFP Officer;  CPLVICTORIO AGCAOILI, JR. - Most Outstanding 24th IB Personnel (Non-Commissioned); CPT ALFIE ALONZO - Most Outstanding 24th IB Personnel (Commissioned); SPO3 CLARO DEVARA - Most Outstanding PNP Officer (Non-Commissioned); PSINSP GILBERT  DIAZ - Most Outstanding PNP Officer (Commissioned);   LGOO V TERESITA R. OLA - Most Outstanding Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO); MR. ALFRED MANALO - Most Outstanding Barangay Tanod ; and BRGY. SAN NICOLAS of  Castillejos and BRGY. STO. NIÑO of San Felipe, Best Lupong Tagapamayapa for the 1st-3rd Class and 4th-6th Class Municipal Categories, respectively.

    Meanwhile, Gov. Ebdane commended the AFP and PNP in their efforts in maintaining peace and order in the province, along with their programs in helping the community. He also tackled the measures to be implemented that would ensure peace, order and safety in the community especially during the observance of the Holy Week. Finally, he instructed all Mayors to continue to coordinate with the PNP, AFP and BFP in a joint effort for the said campaign.

  The Municipality of Palauig in Zambales has recently received the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as incentive for its exemplary good governance.

   Dir.  Armi V. Bactad, CESO V, DILG Zambales Provincial Director personally handed the PCF check worth 1 Million pesos to Hon. Generoso F. Amog, Municipal Mayor last March 27, 2014 in a simple ceremony prepared by the LGU.  The fund will be used by the municipality in the concreting of the Sto. Niño – Tuktok Pangol Road.

   The municipality is among the 5 Municipalities in the province conferred with the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH), Silver Level.

   PCF is an incentive fund to LGUs in the form of counterpart funding to high-impact capital investment projects in the Annual Investment Program (AIP) and funded out of the 20% Local Development Fund consistent with national goals and priorities.

   In order to qualify for the monetary incentive, LGUs must comply with the criteria of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) focused on sound Fiscal Management highlighting the absence of adverse COA Opinion on LGU financial statements and transparent and accountable governance putting value on  full disclosure and compliance to Anti-Red Tape Act 2007.

     A new set of officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay Zambales Provincial Chapter for the term 2013-2016 was elected and proclaimed at the Conference Room of the DILG Provincial Office, Iba, Zambales last December 18, 2013.