1,156 Members of Barangay Peacekeeping Teams Took their Oath with DILG Secretary

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno as guest speaker



The Police Regional Office 13 through its Police Community Relations Office organized the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) in Caraga Region in order to maintain peace and order in local communities at the same time to immediately respond in emergency situations.
Butuan City and Jabonga in Agusan del Norte was chosen as the pilot areas for the region.
In a simple ceremony held on November 21 at Sanchez gym in Normisist, Ampayon this city, a mass oath taking of 1,156 BPAT’s from Butuan and Agusan del Norte was held with DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno as the guest speaker.

Mayor Democrito D. Plaza in his message was thankful that Butuan was chosen to pilot the project and assured the city government will support for its sustainability.

The BPAT purposely was created as the primary operators to conduct Community-Oriented Policing and Public Safety System which will be composed of PNP supervisor, Barangay Chairman, and Barangay Tanods.

Police Senior Supt. Nestor Fajura, Plans and Operations Chief of PRO 13 said, the primary mission of BPATs includes the conduct of peacekeeping activities, organize and mobilize various sectors of the community in support of the maintenance of peace and order and safety.

BPAT members were also trained to conduct crisis management, disaster mitigation, search, rescue, and relief operations within the community, played important roles to strengthen and support the Barangay Justice System (Lupong Tagapamayapa) and authorized to conduct crime prevention and deterrence measures to protect the vulnerable sectors of the community.

“With the Barangay Peacekeeping Operations (BPO) and the BPAT, security and safety services traditionally dispensed by the PNP will be enhanced by the grassroots approach. The BPAT, the prime movers of the BPO will render services tailor-made for the community which they belong and serve”, said DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

The Secretary also denied any political motivation behind the move to Launch BPAT.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Director Lino Calingasan explained that this is the new dynamic and proactive approach to community peacekeeping which the PNP leadership is pushing for.

“The formation and operationalization of the BPAT shall be guided by the principles and guidelines composed of the awareness phase, organization and training phase, and mobilization phase. Social investigation shall be conducted prior to the recruitment of prospective members of the BPAT. The results of the investigation will be the basis for the configuration of the team since no two barangays are the same in terms of peace and order and safety situation,” said Police Chief Supt. Calingasan.

Magallanes, Agusan del Norte

Perfect view on sunset at Magallanes, Agusan del Norte. Magallanes is a Spanish name of the Portuguese maritime explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Having only 8 barangays but the the town has two plywood manufacturing firms: EMCO in Brgy. Sto. Rosario and PSPI in Brgy. Marcos, and one safety matches manufacturing firm: JAKA Equities Corp (Brgy. Marcos). The three manufacturing plants are all on the main street and operating near the Baug River and Agusan River.

DSWD Released 6.1M Katas ng Vat for Senior Citizens in Caraga

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga facilitated for the month of October a total of 2,612 senior citizens from Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur in the continuing implementation of the government’s Katas ng Vat: Para kay Lolo at Lola Project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Department has continued the one-shot provision of 500 pesos to senior citizens taken from the collection of the oil value added tax.

Implemented nationwide, the program requires that beneficiaries must be 70 years old and above, dependent or belonging to a family whose income is within or below the poverty threshold and not covered by any private or government agency retirement benefits like SSS, GSIS or PVAO.

The guideline also provides that a ratio of one beneficiary per family shall be followed.

DSWD Caraga Director Mercedita Jabagat said the Katas ng VAT: Tulong Para kay Lolo at Lola project was conceptualized to extend support in the form of a one-time cash grant to indigent senior citizens.

The Senior citizen in order to avail the program must present a valid identification card (OSCA ID, etc.) that indicates the birth date for validation purposes or a certification from the barangay captain as to the age of the senior citizen.

Last year, a total of 9,632 senior citizens received the 500 peso allocation fund.

On November 4 of this year, DSWD Caraga had an additional 2,312 senior citizen beneficiaries from Butuan City who will be receiving 500 pesos each.

The latest data of the implementation of the Katas ng VAT: Para kay Lolo at Lola released by DSWD-Caraga showed more than 6.1 million has already been released to senior citizens in different provinces and cites in the region. (with reports from Leah Quintana)