LUNA, Apayao – The Peace and Order, and Public Safety-Technical Working Group (POPS-TWG) of the province convened for its first-quarter meeting and planning session on January 14-15, 2025, at the Aliwa Gym in San Isidro Sur, Luna.
Facilitated by the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG), said two-day activity focused on evaluating progress, identifying challenges and collectively planning for strategies to enhance peace and order and public safety in the province.
Planning Officer Leonel Basquez of Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), representing the POPS-TWG Chairperson Engr. Henry Caluducan, presided over the meeting during which he announced a PhP6 million budget allocated to POPS for this year.
One of the issues discussed was the low implementation rate of programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) and utilization of their allocated funds. DILG-Apayao personnel suggested that agencies with low implementation rates should expedite their PPAs and utilize their funds, as other agencies require these funds for their own PPAs. To address the funding gap, the DILG-Apayao proposed that with low implementation rates consider waiving their unused funds to agencies in need.
Members of council actively participated in the planning session, contributing more data and proposed new PPAS for potential inclusion in the POPS plan.
Other attendees include regular members of the council such as Apayao Police Provincial Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, 17th Infantry Battalion and 98th Infantry Battalion of Armed Forces of the Philippines, Land Transportation Office, Provincial Legal Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Budget and Management Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other stakeholders.
The committee likewise reviewed the accomplishments and updates presented by each agency. By Krizza Joy Castillo