The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has initiated a measure to thwart all forms of violent acts as it rolled out the training program module on the “Localized National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (NAP-PCVE) in the National Capital Region (NCR). In a statement, the DILG-NCR noted that the training brought together 100 Metro Manila barangay representatives for the purpose of enhancing their knowledge and skills in preventing and countering violent extremism within their own communities. By familiarizing barangay officials with important subjects related to terrorism, The DILG stated that “they will be equipped to use effective strategies to prevent and counter violent extremism incidents from happening. In the said activity, valuable insights were gained in areas such as: security situation analysis, anti-terrorism awareness, conflict mediation, and more. The training featured expert speakers from various agencies, including the DILG-NCR, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) and the Congregation of the Living Faith Jesus Ministry Inc. “Their diverse expertise and perspectives gave the participants a comprehensive understanding of the subject,’’ the DILG added. DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin stressed the importance of vigilance and awareness in the face of terrorism and underscored the need for barangay officials to be prepared and proactive in preventing and responding to potential terrorist threats. “In addition to being aware of the threat, we must be prepared to take action. This means working with our law enforcement agencies to prevent terrorist attacks and respond to them if they do occur. It also means being prepared to help our neighbors and community in the aftermath of an attack,” Agustin asserted. She further emphasized that these discussions are critical, regardless of whether the terrorism threat is large-scale or more localized. The program also included an engaging question and answer session where an exchange of information and insights between the resource speakers and barangay officials were facilitated as this interactive segment provided useful opportunities for participants to seek clarifications while sharing their experiences and perspectives. DILG-NCR Assistant Regional Director Ana Lyn R. Baltazar-Cortez pointed out the significance of utilizing the knowledge gained from the training to enhance community safety. “I implore everyone to actively participate in the fight against terrorism and, again, impart your knowledge and experiences with the others present so that they, too, can be better equipped to combat this threat.” Cortez said.