San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, concurrent chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Metro Manila, flew to the United States on Sunday, March 19, to attend a series of meetings with US senators and congressmen at the US Capitol, and a training program that will help boost the RPOC's knowledge and skills.
Zamora posted on Facebook his photo upon arrival at Dulles Airport in Washington D.C.
He will be joined by the Regional Peace and Order Council - Department of the Interior and Local Government (RPOC-DILG) in his meetings with US senators and congressmen at the US Capitol.
Zamora will also attend training sessions with American think tanks regarding public safety, homeland security, and peace and order.
On top of being the Metro Manila Council (MMC) president and vice chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the National Capital Region (NCR), Zamora said the RPOC plays an integral role in the national government's campaign to go grassroots in fighting criminality, illegal drugs, insurgency, and violent extremism.
It also becomes an instrument for stronger collaboration between the administration and the local government units (LGUs) in carrying out projects related to peace and order.
"We have been entrusted with very important responsibilities that will configure major policies of the government in the National Capital Region (NCR) from economic development to healthcare, to peace and order and security, to traffic management, and all other aspects of governance that affect the millions of people living and working in Metro Manila,” Zamora said.
Citing his city's achievements in peace and order, Zamora said that the city of San Juan has the lowest crime rate among other cities in Metro Manila according to data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), and was recently awarded by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the first city in the National Capital Region with 100 percent of its barangays drug-cleared.