PPOC to PNP: Show up, You’ll have our Support

The provincial leadership here posed a challenge to the police force here to show up and “you’ll have our support”.

Vice Governor Allen Jesse Mangaoang through the Provincial Peace and Order Council(PPOC) directed the Philippine National Police here to submit during the Executive Legislative Agenda (ELA) meeting a shopping list of their needs so that the local government unit (LGU) could find ways and means to provide them.

However, he told the PNP to also reciprocate in terms of good performance saying LGUs were not remiss on their obligation to assist the PNP in law enforcement and therefore expect the police to discharge their duties judiciously.

In the PNP report, all LGUs in the province allocated budgetary support to their respective police district. The biggest came from the provincial government given to the Kalinga Police Provincial Office in terms of vehicle, communication equipments, gasoline and cash allotment.

Governor and PPOC Chairman Jocel Baac, through the approval of the PPOC members directed the PNP to sit down with them in the ELA forum to present their priorities.
During the PPOC meeting, Police Provincial Director Virgilio Laya admitted that the PNP is not capable of being the sole operational arm of the LGUs in the anti-insurgency campaign.

He reported during the PPOC that they are undermanned, lack mobility, equipment, and firearms. His admission prompted the PPOC to continue supporting them.
Baac who is personally making updates on recent murder cases informed the body that slowly the victims are getting justice. Where necessary to expedite the resolution of the cases, he readily offered the PNP support.

On the other hand, Provincial Prosecutor Bartolome Gamonnac reminded the PNP to build strong cases against suspects, submit evidences in order for the prosecution to prosper in court.
/PIA-Kalinga

Kalinga PPOC to activate Anti-squatting Task Force

In efforts to avert squatting here, the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) decided to reactivate the anti-squatting task force.

“Before it become too late, the standard roads Tabuk City is known for has to be protected from further occupancy by private individuals and those who made them into business expansion,” the PPOC declared.
Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Grace Baluyan reported that squatting is one reason why the business climate in this city is not conducive for investors to come in.

“Progress is so slow in the province because investors who want to come in have no guarantee that the lands they will buy to establish their business are not problematic areas or are not squatted”, she said.

In the PPOC meeting last week under the Chairmanship of Governor Jocel Baac, the members adopted the creation of an adhoc committee to study the creation and composition of a new task force to be headed by a lawyer that will include solving squatting on private properties.

The first step taken during the meeting was to limit the composition of the task force members putting those who can act and show results and attached it as a sub-committee under the PPOC.

The second approach is a review, which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is doing, of the anti-squatting ordinance for possible amendments to give more teeth on the law.
Historically, land dispute in Kalinga has claimed lives of many and brought tribes into war. The latest of the is the armed struggle in Rizal between the joint LGU-Police-Military demolition team and the alleged illegal occupants in Malapiat, Rizal.
/PIA-Kalinga

Tubban assures Support to PWD

by Gigi G. Dumallig

City Mayor Ferdinand B. Tubban assured to continue the city government’s support for the persons with disability (PWD) sector here.

To ensure this, he directed the City Social Welfare and Development Officer to include in their budget fund allotment for PWDs programs and services.

In his message during the celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week and house blessing of the Lin-awa Center Transient House, the city mayor said that he “finds inspiration from the achievements and development of the center in providing services for the PWDs.”

The house blessing he said signifies a “ritual transformation since it represents the desire for the approbation of the Almighty for the effort to bring about change.”

Lauding the initiators for their “sincere efforts in making the transformation possible,” Tubban said that the development provided the public an inspiration to also endeavor to share and give recognition for the less fortunate sectors of society such as the PWDs.

The occasion he said predicates the desire of the founders “to let the public know of their noble intentions” to generate awareness from both the beneficiaries and communities of the problems of the PWDs and unprivileged members of the society.
Recognizing the center as a “part of Tabuk City’s historical landmarks,” he said that the development will bring about physical and mental improvement for the beneficiaries and awareness among the public of the needs and problems of the PWDs.

For the past three years, the city government of Tabuk had been providing the Lin-awa Center an annual allotment of P120,000.00 for the services offered in the center such as physical therapy, Special Education Division (SPED), livelihood training and medical services.

Celebrated from July 19-23, this year’s theme of the NDPR Week is “Sa Istrakturang accessible, lahat ay able,” was chosen to align with the functions of the lead agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways, whose mandate among others, concerns the promotion of the accessibility of persons with disabilities towards a barrier-free environment pursuant to Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 better known as the “Accessibility Law.”

This is ably supported by Republic Act No. 7277 otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons” and its amendatory law, Republic Act No. 9442.