THE City Council's committee of the whole has approved the increase in the budget for the city's peace and order programs next year.

Classified under the Special Purpose of the General Fund, the peace and order program for 2019 has a budget of P127 million, a P67-million increase from this year's P60-million allocation.

The increase, according to information released by the City Council, was meant to finance the city's counter-insurgency efforts, terrorism program worth P37.5 million, rewards and awards system worth P10 million, and another P50 million was allocated in the "other programs" category.

Programs such as Capability Building Program and Enhance Lift and Communication Capability was given P10 million and P20 million, respectively.

City Budget Officer Percy Salazar told the councilors that the increase was proposed to enhance the peace and order efforts in the city.

By 2019, the city will also provide financial assistance to the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) worth P35.6 million.