THE City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) of the City Government of San Fernando highlighted notable accomplishments of its members for the year 2020 during a meeting held on January 27, 2021 at Heroes Hall.
Presenting before the council's chairperson, Mayor Edwin Santiago, along with Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin and other officials of the council, key members of the CPOC imparted the successful implementation of their programs, projects, and activities (PPAs).
These PPAs aimed to promote and maintain peace and order in the city, as well as to contribute to the COVID-19 response of the City Government.
According to Santiago, the accomplishments of the groups in peace and order aspects were and will be of big help in attaining safety and economic recovery in the city amidst the current pandemic.
"Pagdating sa layunin natin na makamit ang kaligtasan at economic recovery, napakahalaga po ng peace and order situation ng isang lugar. Maipo-promote lang po natin ang safety kung tayo mismo ay pina-practice ito at magkakaroon lang po tayo ng business o investment activities kapag nasa tama ang sitwasyon ng kapayapaan at kaayusan sa isang lugar," said Lazatin.
The City of San Fernando Police Station (CSFPS), according to Lieutenant Colonel John Clark, chief of police, conducted at least 60 operations where more than 130 individuals were arrested in the campaign against illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and loose firearms during the last quarter of the year.
From March to September 2020, during the implementation of community quarantines, CSFPS arrested at least 200 individuals in over 100 anti-drug operations.
Clark said the city police continue operations, including the implementation of quarantine protocols; information, education, and communication campaign; establishment of police assistance desks in public places; and conduct of foot, mobile, and motorcycle patrols.
City Public Order and Safety Coordinating Office (CPOSCO), on the other hand, recorded 18,625 violations to local ordinances involving 17,720 individuals (5,483 Fernandinos and 11,877 non-residents) from January to December 2020.
CPOSCO chief Louie Clemente and Supervising Administrative Officer Joselito Ortaliz Jr., in their presentation, noted that most of the violators were caught either "not wearing helmet," "disregarding traffic sign," or "driving without driver's license."
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), for its part, shared that as of the current month, 10 barangays of San Fernando have been declared cleared from illegal drugs trade.
Of the 25 drug-affected barangays, 23 were identified as "moderately affected" while two were considered "seriously affected."
PDEA also shared that two operations leading to the confiscation of suspected illegal drugs were conducted in the city for the year 2020, netting an estimated street value of at least P9 million.
Apart from its accomplishments, the CPOC also tackled the planned projects including the erection of new stations for the CSFPS, CPOSCO, Bureau of Fire Protection, and a PDEA "Balay Silangan."
Certain resolutions are set to be created by the officers, marking the first step in realizing these projects, together with other partner agencies of the government.
Also present during the activity were City Administrator Atlee Viray and Marites Quillope, council head secretariat and City Local Government Operations Officer. (PR)