Anti-insurgency, illegal drugs get top priority in peace council budget

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Anti-insurgency and the campaign against illegal drugs are given the top budget allocation by the province of Pampanga in 2018.

The Pampanga Peace and Order (PPOC) unanimously approved on Monday, December 4, the P40-million proposed budget of the council for 2018.

Crime prevention and anti-insurgency will get P16 million, followed by anti-illegal drugs operations at P10 million. The rest of the budget covers law enforcement (P600,000) which covers police operations against loose firearms, illegal drugs and unwarranted persons; administrative (P4.4 million) which will be spent for command conferences, supplies and materials, insurance of Bantay Bayan and Lupon Tagapamayapa Incentive awards; equipment outlay (P2 million); and capital outlay (7 million).

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Myrvi Fabia said the PPOC has a remaining budget of P28 million for 2017.

The committee approved three resolutions for the re-alignment of the unspent budget and allocated for the following: P14 million for strengthening of POC programs, intelligence fund and force multipliers; P2 million for purchasing of radio equipment and P9 million for the installations of brand new closed circuit TVs (CCTVs).

Third District Board Member Rosve Henson, chair of the public order and security committee, said the said purchase of CCTVs are addition to those previously installed under the crime prevention projects and will be placed at strategic areas in the province to be identified by the chiefs of police in their respective areas of responsibilities.

Governor Lilia Pineda, for her part, underscored the importance of the projects and activities of the PPOC to yield more positive results in the campaign against crime and illegal drugs in the province.

“Gusto kong projects yung pang matagalan para mapakinabangan ng marami para sa katahimikan ng probinsya natin,” the governor said.

The PPOC also approved the recommendation of Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Cabugon, Philippine Army Commanding officer of 703rd Infantry Brigade for the conduct of a leadership Summit next year for the Kapampangan youth so they could be oriented on their vital role in nation building and become effective partners of the government and how they could avoid the use of illegal drugs. (PR)