DILG evaluates performance of over 1,700 local peace and order councils nationwide
By Chito Chavez
A total of the 1,733 local peace and order councils (POCs) nationwide were evaluated to check the efficiency of their work in maintaining law and order, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stated.
In a statement, the DILG said the audit covers POCs of 17 regions, 82 provinces, 149 cities and 1,485 municipal POCs.
“The objectives of the audit are to identify the innovations of POCs and determine possible strategies for the improvement of their performance,’’ the DILG explained.
Based on DILG Memorandum Circular 2025-091, POCs shall be assessed using two main pillars, functionality indicator (70 percent), to check their compliance with the functions and responsibilities provided by the Omnibus Guidelines for POCs and the development indicator (30 percent) to evaluate them based on their outcomes and impact on the peace and order and public safety situation in their locality.
The DILG said POCs with 85 percent score and above will be rated as high performing, 70-84 percent as moderate, while those who scored 69 percent and below will be tagged as low performing.
“POC Performance Audit results shall be utilized as one of the indicators of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) awards under the Safety, Peace, and Order Area. LGUs with high-performance ratings will be deemed eligible for SGLG,’’ it added.
To standardize and streamline the management and assessment of documents, the DILG said this year’s audit shall utilize the full functionality of the POC Audit System.
“Audit committees shall be formed at the provincial, regional, and national levels which are composed of representatives from the PNP (Philippine National Police), BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection), BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Department of National Defense (DND) and civil society organizations, among others,’’ the DILG maintained.
The DILG also advised all audit committees to thoroughly examine and validate the submitted documents to ensure the quality, veracity, and consistency of the audit results.
“An online orientation and pre-auditing phase commenced this Sept. while post-audit activities, including consolidation, and approval of official results by the National Audit Committee will be completed by Nov.,’’ the DILG lamented.
The DILG said POC serves as the government’s mechanism for fostering stronger collaboration between local government units (LGUs), law enforcement agencies, and communities in addressing criminality, illegal drugs, insurgency, and violent extremism.