The Regional Peace and Order Council – National Capital Region (RPOC-NCR) held its 3rd Quarter Full Council Meeting on September 26, 2023, at the Meralco Multi-purpose Hall in the Ortigas Central Business District, Pasig City. Presiding over the meeting was Hon. Francis Javier M. Zamora, Chairman of RPOC-NCR and Mayor of San Juan City. 

The meeting was hosted by the Bureau of Fire Protection – National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) headed by Regional Director FCSupt Nahum B Tarroza and Lead of the Special Action Committee on Public Safety (SAC-PS). FCSupt. Tarroza delivered the welcoming address, reiterating the commitment of BFP-NCR to ensure public safety and support the work of the RPOC-NCR. 

The Full Council Meeting was attended by officials and representatives from the Council’s member agencies, including Malabon City Mayor Hon. Jeannie Sandoval, Navotas City Vice Mayor Hon. Tito Sanchez, as well as councilors and representatives from the LGUs. Other members of the RPOC-NCR Executive Committee were likewise present, namely: RPOC-NCR Vice-Chairperson NCRPO Regional Director PBGen Jose Melencio C Nartatez, Jr., RPOC-NCR Co-Vice Chairperson Joint Task Force Commander BGen. Alexei C Musñgi, Head Secretariat and DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – NCR Assistant Regional Director Laura P Nebato.

Chairman Zamora set the direction of the proceedings by first thanking the participation of RPOC-NCR member agencies in the meeting. The Chairman also expressed satisfaction over the way the Palarong Pambansa and the FIBA World Cup were successfully held with no untoward incidents happening to mar the events. He also reiterated the need to continue the hard work by member agencies to maintain peace and order and public safety in the region, especially with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and the implementation of price caps on rice. 

With the BSKE slated for October 2023 approaching fast, the Commission on Election – NCR (COMELEC-NCR) Assistant Regional Election Director Atty. Jovencio G. Balanquit gave a more detailed briefing on the preparations the COMELEC is undertaking to ensure that the BSKE in the NCR is held in a peaceful and orderly manner. These preparations include the pilot testing of automated elections in Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Quezon City with the use of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs). Also being pilot tested is “voting in malls” in collaboration with participating Robinsons and SM malls in the NCR. In addition, the Anti-Epal Resolution (Drive Against Premature Campaigning by Candidates) is being activated, as well as the Kontra-bigay Committees for violators of vote buying and vote selling statutes.  

MERALCO Foreign Attachment Management Head Mr. Samuelson Montoya and Engr. Jason Calsas, then presented the Electrical Fire Safety Measures being implemented by MERALCO to improve the safety aspects of their distribution lines and related installations to protect citizens in case of fire and other emergencies. Specifically, MERALCO presented initiatives involving the replacement of hazard-prone poles, the problem of dangling wires and cable bundling. MERALCO requested the assistance of LGUs to facilitate the implementation of the utility’s electrical safety measures. 

Next presented was the support of LGUs in the NCR as requested by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) relative to its Reservist Program. Details of the program were presented by BGen Charito B. Plaza, MNSA, PhD, who is the Commander of the 1st Air Force Wing of the AFP. Currently, the program is implementing an active information campaign to invite eligible Filipinos to be part of the Reservist Program in line with the relevant provisions of the Philippine Constitution and the Reservist Law, which envisions a holistic reservist effort that integrates programs in disaster response, peace and order, public safety, national security, defense, and national development.

The SACs then followed with their respective reports. BFP-NCR presented updates on their fire inspection of LGUs, while SAC on Anti-illegal Drugs and SAC on Administrative Governance briefed the body on their particular areas of concern. RPOC-NCR Head Secretariat, Regional Director Agustin also presented to the council the results of the 2022 Regional Peace and Order Council Performance Audit. The RPOC-NCR has garnered a rating of 100% on top of being lauded as “exemplary” for its innovation, the RPOC-NCR website.

The RPOC-NCR third quarter meeting was bookended with the presentation of the agreements and thirteen (13) resolutions submitted for adoption and approval by the Council.