BAGUIO CITY – Twenty barangays selected by the ten police stations of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) in this mountain resort are currently undergoing on-site validation and table assessment by the Baguio Peace and Order Council (BPOC) assessment team.
The participating barangays were selected by the ten police stations within their respective areas of responsibility. Used as basis of selection is the barangay’s performance when it comes to peace and order last year.
The assessment team headed by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Evelyn Trinidad together with representatives from the Special Services Division of the City Mayor’s Office, Liga ng mga Barangay, Bureau of Fire Protection, BCPO, civic society organization started the on-site validation last June 7 and will end on June 14.
The 20 barangays undergoing a thorough evaluation include Asin, Irisan, San Roque Village, Lower Lourdes Subdivision, City Camp Proper, Phil-Am, Middle Quirino Hill, Lower Quirino Hill, North Central Aurora Hill, San Antonio Village, Atok Trail, Loakan Liwanag, Camp 7, SLU-SVP, Sto. Tomas Central, Hillside, Teodoro Alonzo, Camp Allen, DPS Compound, and Pucsusan.
The barangays will be judged based on the organization, meetings, policies, plans and budget, and accomplishment report of the BPOC.
Accordingly, the Constitution mandates that the government shall promote the quality of life of the people. Also Republic Act 7160 provides that the local government shall, within their territorial jurisdictions, promote the welfare and safety, improve morals, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.
The Search for the most outstanding BPOC aims to encourage the organization of BPOCs in all the barangays in the city; to functionalize the BPOCs and make their plans at work; to recognize the outstanding performance of the BPOC; to ensure an enhanced involvement, mutual assistance and coordination among all sectors of the community in the attainment of peace, law and order, public safety and security in the barangay level; and to assess security programs, projects and activities of the BPOCs
Community affairs officer Noel Mabutas stressed that with the said search, the barangays are expected to improve and enhance involvement, mutual assistance and coordination among all sectors of the community in the attainment of peace and order in all barangay level. Also, the barangays are expected to have a more intensified involvement and role of the barangays in the citywide maintenance of peace and order.
Winning barangays will be awarded with a Plaque of Recognition and cash prizes during the celebration of the Local Government month on October, Mabutas added.
By Jho Arranz