CEBU, Philippines - Outstanding barangay peace and order committees and outstanding teams of tanods in Negros Oriental were given recognition during awarding rites the other day, under the auspices of the Department of Interior and Local Government Unit, headed by provincial Director Dennie Quiñones.
Adjudged as outstanding BPOC (for component cities category) was Barangay Looc in Dumaguete City, headed by its chairperson Angelita Ragay, which got a rating of 84.81 percent. Next were the BPOC of Barangay Tayawan in Bayawan City and the BPOC of Poblacion in Guihulngan City, while Motong received the consolation prize.
Ragay said the Looc Barangay Council and the vigilant constituents have contributed in lowering the problem on illegal drugs.
For outstanding BPOCs (1st to 3rd class municipalities category), the winners were those of Barangay Campuyo in Manjuyod town, Bagawines also of Manjuyod, and Calag-calag of Ayungon town. Consolation prize went to Poblacion of Pamplona.
The outstanding BPOCs (4th to 6th class municipalities) awards went to Poblacion of Amlan town, followed by Tapon Norte of San Jose and Mayabon of Zamboanguita.
For the outstanding tanod teams (component cities), the one of Barangay Tayawan in Bayawan City garnered 92.62 percent rating to outdo 10 others. The 1st runner-up honors went to Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City and 2nd runner-up to Poblacion of Guihulngan City.
Under the 1st to 3rd class municipalities category, the outstanding tanod teams awards went to Barangay Bagawines of Vallehermoso town, followed by Campuyo of Manjuyod and Puhagan of Valencia.
In the 4th to 6th class category, the top tanod teams were Poblacion of Amlan town, followed by Mayabon of Zamboanguita and Boloc-boloc of Dauin.
Each outstanding BPOC and outstanding tanod team winners received P11,000 cash, while the 1st runner-ups got P9,000 and the 2nd runner-ups P7,000.
Governor Roel Degamo and Quiñones of DILG administered the awarding ceremonies, along with Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office OIC director, Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos.
Quiñones said the search for the outstanding BPOCs and tanod teams was a DILG-Negros Oriental initiative, as part of its mission to promote peace and order, ensure public safety, strengthen capability of LGUs through active people participation and a professionalized corps of civil servants.
One of the criteria was service delivery performance of participating BPOCs and tanod teams, which were evaluated based on the volume of crime incidents in their respective areas and what action they have undertaken.
The BPOCs and tanod teams were also graded on the effectiveness of their public safety plan, the amount of support from their respective councils, crime prevention equipment and support from the community and non-government organizations, said Quiñones.
Degamo said BPOCs and the tanod teams have been the force multipliers in preserving peace and order in their barangays, and have greatly contributed to the declaration of the province as conflict manageable and development ready. (FREEMAN)