Interior and Local Government Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr. File photo / Albert Calvelo of Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday said that it would implement a 70 percent passing rate for over 1,700 peace and order councils (POCs) of local government units (LGUs) that will undergo annual performance audits.
The DILG said that 1,715 local POCs need to score 70 percent or higher in this year’s annual performance audits to be considered “functional” based on the pillars of organization, meetings, policies, plans and budgets, reports, and general supervision.
Last year, POCs recorded a 65 percent score. DILG said the increase in passing rate aims to ensure POCs’ active implementation of peace and order programs and programs within their areas.
“Through this yearly audit, we want to make sure that our regional, provincial, city, and municipal POCs are functional and are carrying out strategies and interventions to further improve the peace and order situation in their areas,” said DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. in a statement.
He said that for this year, the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) of the DILG will organize and lead the National Audit Team (NAT) with representatives from various agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) as its members.
According to Abalos, POCs will bring “meaningful development in their areas such as an increase in business or investment confidence, flourishing infrastructure projects and wide participation and engagements of various sectors.”
He explained that bonus points would be allotted to POCs if they could develop innovative programs that contribute to maintaining peace and order and public safety within their areas.
Citing Executive Order No. 773, Abalos said that POCs must meet every three months, have a three-year plan on Order and Public Safety (POPS), allocate part of the annual budget to the campaign against illegal drugs, and submit accomplishment reports via POPs Plan Policy Compliance Monitoring System.
Effectiveness in addressing criminality issues, citizens’ satisfaction with peace and order and public safety, and women’s participation in POCs will be added to this year’s performance audit’s development indicators.
However, Abalos clarified that the added indicators will only serve as baseline data and will not be included in the total score.
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