THE City Government of San Fernando formally launched on Monday, February 3, "#Disiplina Muna," a program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under Memorandum Circular 2019-181 designed to "rebuild the culture of discipline among Filipinos."
Mayor Edwin Santiago led City Hall and barangay officials, employees and police, as well representatives in launching the campaign through the pledge and signing of the "Disiplina Muna" commitment board during Monday's (February 3) flag raising ceremonies.
"This is actually the formal launching of the #Disiplina Muna campaign which we initially ran last December when we strengthened our Public Order and Safety Coordinating Office or Posco in accordance with the clearing operations mandated by the DILG. And with #Disiplina Muna, we would want to sustain the campaign with honesty, integrity, discipline of course, and the love for the City of San Fernando," Santiago said.
"Lagi nating sinasabi na ang disiplina ay nagmumula sa ating mga sarili. Ang tanong ay kung paano tayo nakapag-comply sa direktiba ng DILG gayong malaking pagsubok ito para sa atin. Ang kasagutan ay ang suporta ng publiko sa ating mga inisyatiba, na naniniwala sila sa kakayahan natin at naniniwala silang may paraan sa lahat ng problema," he said.
He added that the City Government of San Fernando has made a remarkable performance in the implementation and compliance with the clearing operations directive, according to a report released by the DILG.
The city also garnered a compliance rating of 95 -- the highest in Pampanga last year -- for Memorandum Circular 2019-121, which directs all local government units to clear local public roads of illegal obstructions.
The DILG last quarter of 2019 report showed that San Fernando was able to comply with the following indicators: ordinance, inventory, road clearing, displacement, rehabilitation, and grievance mechanism.
For her part, City Local Government Operations Officer Marites Quillope said that #Disiplina Muna is a group effort among agencies and government offices concerned like the City Information Office, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and non-government organizations, including civic society groups.
"This #Disiplina Muna campaign is not just for clearing operations but for the pillars of the DILG like the ease of doing business, disaster resiliency, environmental programs, anti-smoking and all aspects of governance where discipline is essential," she added.
For its implementation, Quillope said that bantay bayan in barangays have been trained and will be deputized to enforce #Disiplina Muna restrictions.
"They will be deputized and issue tickets to violators like those who will smoke in public places, throw garbage anywhere and park their vehicles illegally. It would really start in the barangay level with POSCO heading the monitoring and implementing task force. It is really a group effort to sustain the #Disiplina Muna campaign," she said. (JTD)