RPOC-7 chosen most outstanding

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Peace and Order Council in Central Visayas has been recognized by President Gloria Arroyo as the Most Outstanding RPOC in the country.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Police Regional Office-7 director Ronald Roderos received the plaque of recognition from Arroyo at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace yesterday morning.

Arroyo was assisted by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

Garcia, chairwoman of the RPOC-7, gave special credit to Roderos who prepared and submitted documentary requirements for the award.

The documents that Roderos submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government was a report of the different programs that the RPOC-7 implemented in 2006.

Among those accomplishments of the RPOC were their preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, which was supposed to be held in December 2006 but was moved to January 2007.

Also included was the creation of Special Weapons and Tactics teams in the different police offices and the effort to initiate a search for the most outstanding tanod teams, the first in the country.

The evaluation was made by the National Peace and Order Council.

“We are pleased to announce that the POC of Region 7 has been adjudged as the Best Regional Peace and order Council for year 2008… The exemplary performance and service delivery of your council despite modest means shall serve as role model and inspiration to other Peace and Order Councils,” Puno said in his letter to Garcia last Sept. 3.

The search for the Best Peace and Order Council is an annual undertaking of the NPOC. It was started in 1995 to give due recognition to the exemplary performance of the various local peace councils.

The award is aimed at strengthening the POCs in all levels of government.

Peace and order councils, which are under the guidance of the Napolcom, were created through Executive Order 309 to implement and execute national policies, plans and programs on peace and order. — Garry B. Lao/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)