The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has mapped out plans, which it said, would empower barangay leaders and local stakeholders in the Caraga Region to ‘prevent violent extremism’ and ‘counter violent extremist groups’ in their respective communities.
In a statement, the DILG Caraga Regional Office stated that the training program also dealt with intensifying awareness and involvement of the local communities in developing a ‘proactive attitude’ in maintaining law and order in the region’s barangays.
Identified by the security sector in the region, particularly the Philippine National Police (PNP)– Regional Office XIII and the 4th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the concerned barangays from the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and the highly-urbanized city of Butuan were on hand during the training session done through the blended mode of face-to-face and virtual participation.
The DILG noted that the 405 participants for the face-to-face training modality were Punong Barangays, Sangguniang Barangay Member (chairman on peace and order) and the 98 virtual participants were the other Sangguniang Barangay members, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members, tanods, barangay secretaries and other barangays functionaries.
The DILG Field Officers and the focal persons of the municipalities, cities and provinces of the 167 barangays also attended the activity.
Aside from the AFP and PNP personnel, representatives from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the DILG served as resource persons.
Since 2021, the DILG Caraga has conducted this capacity development (CapDev) program to the large and terrorist infested barangays as part of the localized National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.
“Further, it has been DILG’s mandate to promote peace and order and public safety in local government units in line with the mission of the Department to ensure peace and order, public safety and security, uphold excellence in local governance and enable resilient and inclusive communities,’’ the DILG added.