By Mario Casayuran
Neophyte Senator Roland Dela Rosa formally sought Saturday the creation of the Community Peace and Order Council that would involve barangay officials and their constituents in the prevention of crimes.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (HNP / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
In his Senate Bill 233, Dela Rosa underscored the vital role of the citizenry in effectively preventing and suppressing criminality and maintaining public order and safety.
Dela Rosa is expected to chair the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee that was offered to him by the outgoing chairman, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson.
His nomination as committee chairman will be voted upon by his colleagues, probably a day after the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22.
Both Lacson and Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
“Despite the creation and reorganization of Peace and Order Council in the national, provincial and city or municipality level, the anti-criminality strategies seem to need a complement at the grass-root level,” Dela Rosa said.
“Our proposal is to create the Barangay Community Peace and Order Council (BCPOC) which will aid our Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies in effectively combating crimes and maintaining public order and safety in the land,” he explained.
The bill, which will be known as the “Barangay Community Peace and Order Council Act,” mandates every barangay to organize a Community Peace and Order Council which will serve as the primary government institution that prevents and suppresses criminality.
It will be composed of the Punong Barangay as the chairperson, the Sangguniang Barangay Member who chairs the peace and order committee as the vice chairperson, the Barangay Secretary, chairperson of the Sangguniang Kabataan, a representative from the Lupon Tagapamayapa, at least three representatives from the private sector who shall be appointed by the chairperson, and at least one PNP officer designated by the municipality or the city chief of police.
The council will also employ all the barangay tanods in pursuing its roles.
The BCPOC shall formulate a peace and order plan which shall be incorporated in the development plan of the barangay. It will also recommend measures to improve or enhance peace and order and public safety in the community.
The council shall monitor and coordinate with the local government unit concerned, the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection and the local disaster officer and public order and safety department in the implementation of their programs.
It shall also monitor and check the nefarious activities of criminal elements and maintain continuing dialogue, close coordination, and rapport with the higher levels of the peace and order councils and law enforcement units.
Also, the council will be tasked to make periodic assessments of the prevailing peace and order situation in their respective areas of responsibility and submit a report with appropriate recommendations to the higher security officials.
The BCPOC will source its funds from the barangay’s total budget appropriation which is equivalent to five percent and will be allocated by the Sangguniang Barangay.