Development may come in numbers and programs, but peace and safety demand face-to-face resolve.
Led by Provincial Government of Apayao (PGA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Apayao, members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) convened for its first-quarter joint meeting on March 25, at the Apayao Tourism and Sports Complex (ATSC) in Luna.
Presided over by Board Member Vincent Talattag and Provincial Director Engr. Mayer Max Adong, said meeting brought together a cross-section of governance in the field of law enforcement, military units, civil agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), and other stakeholders.
The meeting took stock of the province’s current security and public safety posture. The Apayao Police Provincial Office (APPO) gave updates on peace and order conditions, while the 17th and 98th Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army briefed the council on anti-insurgency operations. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) discussed the current illegal drug situation and challenges, while the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) reported on the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Among the discussions was the alarming frequency of vehicular accidents, most involving unlicensed motorcycle drivers—a concern amplified by yApayao’s reliance on motorcycles for daily mobility. The PNP called for collective, inter-agency solutions, citing enforcement limitations and the need for coordinated safety campaigns.
But the joint meeting was not all risk and red flags.
Board Member Talattag commended several agencies for their noteworthy achievements. The APPO was recognized for securing the top spot in the Cordillera’s Unit Performance Rating (UPER). The BJMP was lauded for maintaining a drug-free workplace and facility. And the province’s implementation of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) scored an impressive 87%, earning national consideration as a potential model for other LGUs.
From curbing crime to reintegrating former rebels, from tackling the drug trade to confronting the risks on provincial roads, the discussions laid bare the layered realities of governance. It is a challenge too complex for uniformed presence alone. It demands collective effort, genuine trust between agencies, committed community watchfulness, and a civic will that does not falter after the meeting ends. By Krizza Joy Castillo
