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Candelaria, Zambales - Members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the POPS Technical Working Group convened on July 25, 2019 at the Isla de Potipot Hotel and Beach Resort for the crafting of a draft POPS Plan for CY 2020-2022, which charts the three-year direction of the province that will fill in the gaps and shed light on peace and order and public safety issues and challenges in the province for the past years. Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr., Provincial Administrator Omar Ebdane, PNP Provincial Director PCOL. Ponce Rogelio I. Penones Jr., DILG Zambales Provincial Director Armi V. Bactad, CESO V, PDEA Provincial Officer Marie Fe V. Manto, Col. Bagaporo, representatives from Philippine Army 3rd Mechanized Battalion, Provincial Jail Warden Tacdoy, International Police Commission (CSO), and Provincial Government’s Department Heads were all in attendance.

The Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan for 2020-2022 aims to improve the quality of life in the province, wherein social protection initiatives are strategized based on the current peace and order and public safety situation in the province, with the LGU’s mission and vision as the guiding light.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Armi V. Bactad, CESO V, called and encouraged the members and partner CSOs and National Government Agencies to come up with workable and evidence-based proposals, which will be highly instrumental in addressing the peace and order and public safety in the province, and lay down the same for possible funding by the Provincial Government.

DILG Zambales Personnel LGOOs V Nedricks P. Canlas and Shieralyn B. Esteban discussed the DILG Memorandum Circular 2015-128, which provides for the guidelines in the formulation of the POPS Plan. Meanwhile, Acting Program Manager LGOO VI Cindy C. Cagalitan presented the province’s previous plan for CY 2017-2019 in order to revisit the identified POPS issues and challenges, as well as the strategized policies, programs, projects, activities and services. This has enabled all of the concerned offices to look into the items for revision and/or updating based on the present situation of the LGU of the community. Among the key peace and order issues identified are, proliferation of illegal drugs, road accidents, and fire incidents.

Governor Ebdane, PPOC Chairman expressed that the said planning is vital and the commitment of each office is highly expected to not only craft the plan, but also to ensure its good implementation.