Regional Peace and Order Council – National Capital Region Annual Report 2021
Table of Contents i Messages v Terminologies vI About RPOC-NCR 01 2021 STRATEGIC PLANNING & QUARTERLY FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS
Pillars of RPOC-NCR 07 Public Safety 07 Crime and Disorder, and Violent Extremism and Insurgency 17 22 Anti-Illegal Drugs 32 Administrative Governance 38 Special Projects 44 2021 RPOC Resolutions 45 Utilization of Funds
Message We are now in the new normal. Social distancing, regular handwashing, and wearing of face masks have been our buzzwords for almost two years. We have even grown to see online transacting in a whole new light. Unfortunately, the changes have also bred new forms of challenges—the continued threat of cybercrimes and insurgency, to name two—to our safety and security. If there is one takeaway from our experience with COVID-19 for almost two years, it is that fighting the pandemic of this century cannot be achieved if organizations and institutions continue to work in silos. That is why we in RPOC-NCR have relied upon a collaborative—as well as agile and anticipatory—approach, building on both the strengths of the regional council member-agencies and of the local peace and order councils in each of the 17 LGUs. This year, we continued to enhance our capabilities through trainings, moved toward data-driven policy-making and more importantly, forged better, stronger inter-agency as well as regional-local collaborations. We as a Council composed of local chief executives, regional government agencies, and civil society organizations, believe that we have the capacity to redefine our new normal. This is our Smart Normal. Moving forward, the RPOC-NCR aims to sustain its gains in previous years. While we have accomplished a lot, there is much more to be done, and we aim to increase our momentum. Our efforts today will greatly impact future generations. Our initiatives have also encouraged the public to have faith in their government. By ensuring their safety and maintaining peace and order in the region, we are regaining the trust of our fellow citizens. This government has its people’s best interests in mind. Together, let us soldier on toward a peaceful, orderly, and safe National Capital Region. MAYOR EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ Chairperson, RPOC-NCR i
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2021 was less about working harder and more about working smarter. It was also a period of intense learning. Emerging from the dark clouds of 2020, the Regional Peace and Order Council - National Capital Region (RPOC-NCR) and its institutional partners under its four Special Action Committees amassed a base of experiential knowledge built to tackle not only current emergencies but future ones as well. Thus, the year 2021 saw the rise of a learning culture that is fact-based and data-driven, powered by technology and the years of experience of many, and infused with an anticipatory and futurist outlook. It is that pool of knowledge and expertise that RPOC-NCR now uses as compass toward the best way forward. It shows the way toward living in the new normal—a better normal and most certainly, a Smart Normal. Life under the Smart Normal is overwhelmingly digital. In 2021, RPOC mostly communicated, coordinated, formulated and managed its programs digitally. In doing so, the Council was able to advance its policy objectives with more clarity, with greater urgency and to an even larger audience of actors, thanks to online audio and web conferencing platforms. The Smart Normal also engenders a bottom-up, localized action planning mindset. Whether dealing with illegal drug use, crime and disorder, public safety, or lockdowns, RPOC -NCR brought programmatic interventions down to the level of the barangay, neighborhood and even household. The contemporary social dynamics being more complex than ever before, the Smart Normal also takes a holistic approach to problems. The issue of illegal drugs, for example, requires a holistic approach by recognizing that the psycho-social aspect of it is best handled at the community level. The same holds true for other social, health, security, peace and order, violent extremism, and insurgency issues that RPOC-NCR is mandated to address. Finally, the Smart Normal incorporates all the best practices tried and proven in the field such as the lessons learned from how the local chief executives were able to achieve or approach herd immunity this year. With new tools and expertise at its disposal and the support of a seasoned, highly motivated organization and network of partners, RPOC-NCR is ready to face the future with confidence and optimism. MARIA LOURDES L. AGUSTIN, CESO III Regional Director, DILG-NCR and Head Secretariat, RPOC-NCR iii
Terminologies ADAC Anti-Drug Abuse Council BFP Bureau of Fire Protection BJMP Bureau of Jail Management and Penology CADVEI Crime and Disorder, and Violent Extremism and Insurgency CBDRP Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program CHED Commission on Higher Education CICL Children in Conflict with the Law CTG Communist Terrorist Groups DDB Dangerous Drugs Board DILG Department of the Interior and Local Government DOH Department of Health DOH-MMCHD Department of Health - Metro Manila Center for Health and Development DOLE-NCR Department of Labor and Employment - National Capital Region DOST Department of Science and Technology DOT-NCR Department of Tourism - National Capital Region DOTr Department of Transportation DPWH Department of Public Works and Highways DRIVERS Data for Road Incident Visualization Evaluation and Reporting System DTI-NCR Department of Trade and Industry - National Capital Region ELCAC Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict FGD Focus Group Discussion ICAD-NCR Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs - NCR JTF-NCR Joint Task Force - NCR LGU Local Government Unit LTO Land Transportation Office MMDA Metropolitan Manila Development Authority NAPOLCOM National Police Commission NICA-NCR National Intelligence Coordinating Agency - National Capital Region NCR National Capital Region NCRPO PNP National Capital Region Police Office NCRPO-HPG PNP National Capital Region Police Office - Highway Patrol Group OCD-NCR Office of Civil Defense - National Capital Region OLP Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan PDEA-NCR Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - National Capital Region PDLs Persons Deprived of Liberty PNP Philippine National Police PPAs Programs, Plans and Activities PSPA Philippine Society for Public Administration PWUDs Persons Who Use Drugs RPOC-NCR Regional Peace and Order Council – National Capital Region SAC Special Action Committee SBIRT Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment v
About RPOC-NCR The Regional Peace and Order Council–National Capital Region (RPOC-NCR) is mandated to formulate plans on peace and order and to monitor the implementation of programs and projects in the National Capital Region (NCR). It consists of four regional Special Action Committees (SAC): Public Safety; Anti-Illegal Drugs; Crime and Disorder, and Violent Extremist and Insurgency; and Administrative Governance. Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez currently chairs the RPOC-NCR, with PMGen Vicente Danao, Jr. (Philippine National Police NCR Police Office) and BGen Marceliano V. Teofilo (Joint Task Force-NCR, Armed Forces of the Philippines) as vice chairperson and co-vice chairperson, respectively. The Department of the Interior and Local Government-NCR, headed by Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, acts as the Council’s Secretariat. The Council is also composed of local chief executives (LCEs) in the NCR, regional line agencies, Liga ng Mga Barangay-NCR, and civil society organizations. RPOC-NCR ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UP RPOC-NCR CHAIRPERSON VICE-CHAIRPERSON CO-VICE CHAIRPERSON (NCRPO) (JTF-NCR) Liga ng mga Barangay NCR Local Regional Line Civil Society NCR Chapter President Government Units Agencies Organizations SAC on SAC on SAC on Crime and SAC on Public Anti-Illegal Disorder, and Violent Administrative Safety (BFP-NCR) Drugs Extremism and Governance (PDEA-NCR) Insurgency (DILG-NCR) (NCRPO, JTF NCR) HEAD SECRETARIAT (DILG-NCR) Over-all Program Coordinator/s Documentation Legal Records IT & Admin Support Finance Linkages & Affairs Management Communications Coordination with LGU vi
Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez RPOC-NCR Chairperson PMGen Vicente Danao, Jr. RPOC-NCR Vice Chairperson BGen Marceliano V. Teofilo RPOC-NCR Co-Vice Chairperson Maria Lourdes L. Agustin RPOC-NCR Head Secretariat vii
NCR LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVES Mayor Oscar G. Malapitan Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay Mayor Antolin A. Oreta III City of Caloocan City of Las Piñas City of Makati Malabon City Mayor Carmelita A. Abalos Mayor Francisco M. Domagoso Mayor Marcelino R. Teodoro Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi City of Mandaluyong City of Manila City of Marikina City of Muntinlupa Mayor Tobias Reynald M. Tiangco Mayor Imelda G. Calixto-Rubiano Mayor Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto Mayor Miguel F. Ponce III City of Navotas City of Pasay City of Pasig Municipality of Pateros Mayor Josefina G. Belmonte Mayor Francisco Javier M. Zamora Mayor Lino Edgardo S. Cayetano Mayor Rexlon T. Gatchalian City of Quezon City of San Juan City of Taguig City of Valenzuela viii
SPECIAL ACTION COMMITTEES SAC ON ADMINISTRATIVE GOVERNANCE Department of the Interior and Local Philippine Information Agency - Government - National Capital Region National Capital Region Lead and Secretariat Co-Lead Dir. Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III (OIC) Dir. Susan G. De Leon Regional Director Regional Director Department of Budget and Management - Liga ng mga Barangay - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Ruby P. Muro Coun. Ziffred A. Ancheta Regional Director President National Capital Region Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - Police Office National Capital Region Member Member PMGen Vicente D Danao, Jr. Dir. Christian O. Frivaldo, CESE Regional Director Regional Director ix
SAC ON ANTI-ILLEGAL DRUGS National Capital Region Police Office Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - Co-Lead National Capital Region LEAD PMGen Vicente D. Danao, Jr Regional Director Dir. Christian O. Frivaldo, CESE Regional Director National Bureau of Investigation - National Capital Region Department of the Interior and Local Member Government - National Capital Region Secretariat Atty. Cesar A. Bacani Commander Dir. Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III Regional Director Bureau of Customs Member Philippine Coast Guard - National Capital Region Com. Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero Member Commissioner CG Commo Hostillo Metro Manila Center for Health Arturo E. Cornelio Development Regional Director Member Technical Education and Skills Development Dir. Gloria J. Balboa, MPH, MHA Authority - National Capital Region CEO VI, CESO III Member Regional Director Dir. Florencio F. Sunico, Jr., CESO III Regional Director x
Department of Trade and Industry - Department of Budget and Management - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Marcelina S. Alcantara, CESO IV Dir. Ruby P. Muro Regional Director Regional Director Department of Social Welfare and Philippine Information Agency - Development - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Vicente Gregorio B. Tomas Dir. Susan De Leon Regional Director Regional Director Department of Education - National Commission on Higher Education - Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Wilfredo E. Cabral, CESO V Dr. Virginia D. Akiate, CESO III Regional Director Regional Director Bureau of Fire Protection - Liga ng mga Barangay - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member FCSupt Gilbert D. Dolot, DSC Hon. Ziffred A. Ancheta Commissioner Regional Director Bureau of Jail Management and Penology - Dangerous Drugs Board National Capital Region Region Member Member Secretary Catalino S. Cuy J/CSUPT Luisito C. Muñoz, CESE Chairman Regional Director xi
SAC ON CRIME AND DISORDER, AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND INSURGENCY National Capital Region Joint Task Force - Police Office National Capital Region Lead Co-Lead PMGen Vicente D. Danao, Jr BGen Marceliano V. Teofilo Regional Director Commander Department of the Interior and Local National Bureau of Investigation - Government - National Capital Region National Capital Region Secretariat Member Dir. Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III Atty. Cesar A. Bacani Regional Director Regional Director Commission on Human Rights - National Police Commission - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Atty. Diana B. De Leon Atty. Romeo E. David Regional Director Regional Director Department of Labor and Employment - Philippine Coast Guard - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Atty. Sarah Buena S. Mirasol CG Commo Hostillo Regional Director Arturo E. Cornelio Commander xii
National Intelligence Coordinating Technical Education and Skills Development Agency - National Capital Region Authority - National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Dennis Godfrey F. Gammad Dir. Florencio F. Sunico, Jr., CESO III Regional Director Regional Director National Commission on Muslim Filipinos - Department of Budget and Management - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Mito-on M. Ibra Dir. Ruby P. Muro Regional Director Regional Director Department of Social Welfare and Department of Education - Development - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Vicente Gregorio B. Tomas Dir. Wilfredo E. Cabral, CESO V Regional Director Regional Director Department of Tourism - Commission on Higher Education - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Woodrow C. Maquiling Jr. Dr. Virginia D. Akiate, CESO III Regional Director Regional Director xiii
Bureau of Fire Protection - National Capital Region Member FCSupt Gilbert D. Dolot, DSC Commissioner Liga ng mga Barangay - National Capital Region Member Hon. Ziffred A. Ancheta Regional Director Bureau of Jail Management and Penology - National Capital Region Region Member J/CSUPT Luisito C. Muñoz, CESE Regional Director Philippine Information Agency - National Capital Region Co-Lead (OIC) Dir. Susan G. De Leon Regional Director Department of Justice - National Capital Region Member Prosecutor Richard Anthony D. Fadullon Senior Deputy State Prosecutor xiv
SAC ON PUBLIC SAFETY Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Bureau of Fire Protection - Co-Lead National Capital Region Lead Sec. Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. Chairman FCSupt Gilbert D. Dolot, DSC Regional Director Department of Budget and Management - National Capital Region Department of the Interior and Local Member Government - National Capital Region Secretariat Dir. Ruby P. Muro Regional Director Dir. Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III Regional Director Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board - National Capital Region Land Transportation Office - Member National Capital Region Member Atty. Zona Russet M. Tamayo Regional Director Atty. Clarence V. Guinto Regional Director Department of Public Works and Highways - National Capital Region Philippine Coast Guard - Member National Capital Region Member Dir. Eric A. Ayapana, CESO IV Regional Director CG Commo Hostillo Arturo E. Cornelio xv Commander
Metro Manila Center for Health Department of Environment and Natural Development Resources - National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Gloria J. Balboa, MPH, MHA Dir. Jacqueline A. Caancan, CESO III CEO VI, CESO III Regional Executive Director Regional Director Department of Social Welfare and Office of Civil Defense - Development - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dir. Vicente Gregorio B. Tomas Dir. Romulo M. Cabantac Jr Regional Director Regional Director Commission on Higher Education - Department of Education - National Capital Region National Capital Region Member Member Dr. Virginia D. Akiate, CESO III Dir. Wilfredo E. Cabral, CESO V Regional Director Regional Director Bureau of Jail Management and Penology - Liga ng mga Barangay - National Capital Region Region National Capital Region Member Member J/CSUPT Luisito C. Muñoz, CESE Coun. Ziffred A. Ancheta Regional Director President National Capital Region Philippine Information Agency - Police Office National Capital Region Member Member PMGen Vicente D. Danao, Jr (OIC) Dir. Susan G. De Leon Regional Director Regional Director xvi
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS Metrobank Foundation, Inc. Mr. Aniceto M. Sobrepeña President International Alert - Philippines Ms. Nikki Philline C. de la Rosa Country Manager World Bank Manila Mr. Ndiamé Diop Country Director xvii
2021 STRATEGIC PLANNING & QUARTERLY FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS 1
RPOC-NCR Projects, Plans, and Activities for 2021-2022 Strategic Meetings Per Special Action Committee Set 60 Priority PPAs Anti-illegal Drugs 17 for 2021–2022 Crime and Disorder, and 15 Violent Extremism and Insurgency Public Safety 18 Administrative Governance 10 TOTAL: 60 For two days, Regional Peace and Order Council – and sectoral messages that should be adopted in the National Capital Region (RPOC-NCR) members, following Council’s 2021 Work Plan. strict health protocols, gathered at the Cocoon Hotel in In the workshop proper, the pre-identified PPAs and Quezon City to prioritize the Council’s list of programs, initiatives drawn up during previous strategic planning plans and activities (PPAs) for 2021 until mid-2022. events were presented to the respective committees. Facilitated by the RPOC-NCR Secretariat, the attendees Participants categorized the list by identifying those first assessed their PPAs using the important-urgent deemed “important”—i.e., activities that can lead to the matrix (also called the Eisenhower Matrix) and revisited Committee’s goals—versus the “urgent” activities, which RPOC-NCR’s vision and mission for the region. refer to those that demand immediate attention but are Batch 1, which consisted of members of the Special usually associated with achieving another party’s goals. Action Committee on Crime and Disorder, and Violent With the new list, they provided critiques during the final Extremism and Insurgency (CADVEI), attended the March go-over. 9, 2021 event. Members of the Public Safety and Anti- The finalized PPAs were later adopted following the illegal Drugs Special Action Committees were scheduled issuance of RPOC-NCR Resolution No.23, s. 2021 for the March 10 event. (“Adopting and Supporting the Proposed Programs, Meanwhile, the fourth Committee—the Special Action Projects, and Activities (PPAs) of the Special Action Committee on Administrative Governance—held a Committees as Identified During the Regional Peace separate virtual review of its Work Plan. and Order Council Messaging and Strategic Planning For each batch, speakers from the Philippine Information Activity”). Agency - National Capital Region (PIA-NCR) highlighted The two Strategic Planning events were preceded by a the Council’s role in communicating the messages of series of consultative meetings facilitated by the RPOC- peace and order campaigns and discussed the general NCR Secretariat starting January 2021. 2
FIRST QUARTER 2021 More Rehab Facilities Pushed in Support of the Drug Demand Reduction Program In its first 2021 Council meeting on March 31, 2021, the RPOC- • Outpatient drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation NCR revisited the state of facilities that cater to Filipinos with services in city hospitals; and severe drug affectations. Called the Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DATRCs), there are 64 such • In community-based drug treatment and rehabilitation institutions in the country, seven of which are in the NCR. program within their areas of responsibilities. The DATRC is an in-house facility for persons who use drugs (PWUDs) with “severe drug affectation” and who In sum, the Council hoped to see a “one-stop shop” voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. Accounting drug facility/service for PWUDS established in each of for 1-2 percent of all PWUDs, those assessed as severely the Metro Manila local government units (LGUs). This substance dependent are provided inpatient medical and next step aligns with RPOC-NCR’s 2017 community- psychological interventions in DATRCs until such time based drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP) that was that they are able to return to normal life. turned over to the DOH and later adopted nationwide The metropolis’ DATRCs have a total bed capacity of 1,096. through a DILG resolution. The CBDRP intervention This falls short when compared to the current demand of may include psychosocial support, relapse prevention 2,705 beds, according to the Department of Health (DOH). skills, family intervention, counseling, and education or Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) employment support for those with mild to moderate Undersecretary Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri reiterated drug affectation. during the meeting that NCR cities are encouraged to This quarter’s Council motions were reinforced by have at least one such center each. However, given the the issuance of RPOC-NCR Resolution No. 25, s. 2021 resources required to set up the DATRCs, the Council also (“Supporting the Call to Establish Drug Abuse Treatment explored the possibility of creating “clusters” of DATRCs and Rehabilitation Center in the Local Government and Balay Silangan in the metro. Units in the Region”) and Resolution No. 26, s. 2021 As majority of the country’s active drug users are classified as (“Supporting the Call to Establish a One-Stop Shop for mild, the Council also recognized that different interventions Drug Facility/Service for Persons Who Use Drugs (in Local should be set in place for both the mild and moderate drug Government Units”). users. Thus, the Council resolved to dialogue with and enjoin Such resolutions serve to emphasize the importance of NCR local chief executives to institutionalize the following: demand reduction programs in the implementation of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy. 3
SECOND QUARTER 2021 Public Safety Committee Welcomes DOTr and World Bank Manila as New Members The Special Action Committee in preparation for the virtual on Public Safety recommended forum on road safety on June the inclusion of the Department 23 this year. Their key officials of Transportation (DOTr) also served as resource and World Bank Manila as persons during the forum Committee members during proper. the second RPOC-NCR Council Parañaque Mayor and meeting on June 29, 2021 held RPOC-NCR Chairperson via the Zoom platform. Edwin Olivarez approved The Committee recognized the resolution to expand the that both institutions had membership of the RPOC-NCR’s been instrumental in the Public Safety Special Action implementation of major Committee and welcomed the activities on road safety for two new members. the first half of 2021. Both The second Council meeting’s DOTr and the World Bank 41 members in attendance Manila participated in a series included officials of RPOC-NCR’s of coordinative meetings member agencies, mayors, with the Committee’s existing vice mayors, councilors, and members such as the Bureau representatives from the DILG of Fire Protection – National field offices and other LGUs. Capital Region (BFP-NCR), Assistant Secretary Mark Metro Manila Development Steven Pastor of DOTr and Mr. Authority (MMDA), Department Harvey Ian Arbas, technical of Public Works and consultant of World Bank Highways-NCR (DPWH-NCR), Manila, were present as special and Regional Highway Patrol guests. Unit-National Capital Region 4
THIRD QUARTER 2021 Mitigating Risks in the Bid to Move Toward the New Normal Photo Credit: Philippine News Agency by Gil Calinga. By the third quarter of 2021, the NCR saw another spike in reported oxygen shortages, retail prices in the metro, and its COVID-19 infection rate, this time brought by the delta the list of suppliers as of end-September. variant. The health impact on the metro was thus one The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Fair Trade of the focus of the third quarter RPOC-NCR Full Council Enforcement Bureau-Surveillance and Monitoring meeting on September 29. Similar to the previous Division also shared how they monitored the prices and meetings during the year, the quarter’s event was held supply of medical grade oxygen tanks in NCR, particularly via the Zoom platform. in Bambang, Manila, since July 2021, with help from the “This quarter, we recognized that peace and order DOH Pharmaceutical Division-Medical Device Unit. and public safety should not only mean crime-free Meanwhile, in light of the pandemic—as well as the communities, but also disaster risk-free…communities,” reported threats of terrorism—RPOC-NCR assigned a said RPOC-NCR Chairperson and Parañaque Mayor technical working group (TWG) in 2020 composed of Edwin Olivarez. “As a peace and order council, our representatives from regional line agencies to review policy objectives should not only address the issues that Regional Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 of 2019. challenge the safety of our communities. It should also The circular, first released prior to the pandemic, seek to ensure the health of every citizen given the still initially aimed to institutionalize security protocols in ever present danger that the pandemic poses.” all accommodation establishments, malls, restaurants, Chairperson Olivarez highlighted the importance of and other tourism establishments in the NCR. This 2021, informing the public on the availability of medical the RPOC-NCR’s Special Action Committee on CADVEI supplies, family food packs, and the implementation of took the process one step further by holding a focus granular lockdowns under the new alert system recently group discussion (FGD) on October 7, 2021 that aimed put in place. to incorporate provisions for the new normal due to the In the Council meeting, DOH-Metro Manila Center pandemic (See full story on page 17). for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD), which is the Once the review is completed, LGUs are expected to adopt regional arm of the DOH Central Office, presented details the provisions of the memorandum circular following the on the availability of oxygen tanks in NCR, including data release of an executive or legislative order. on medical oxygen in hospitals and LGUs, hospitals with 5
Civil SocietyFOURTH QUARTER 2021 Organization-Member to Share Insights on Its Monitoring System in Conflict Areas The final quarterly RPOC-NCR Full Council on December 9 will be a blended event, with some participants attending onsite at the Blue Leaf Filipinas in Parañaque City, and the rest joining in via the Zoom platform. As this is the last gathering for the year, the four Special Action Committees under RPOC-NCR will be presenting their plans for year 2022. The region’s mayors will also share their local peace and order concerns in the “Mayors’ Hour” portion. Aside from the regular agenda, two civil society organizations will take the spotlight to introduce their ongoing projects. One of these is International Alert and its “Conflict Alert and Critical Events Monitoring System” being employed in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). International Alert is expected to share its experience on how the monitoring system in BARMM has helped to inform relevant stakeholders such as government agencies on current as well as emerging tensions so as to mitigate conflict escalations. Other highlights from this last quarterly event include: • Presentation of the search for the 2022 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos Officially launched in early November 2021, the award is the most prestigious career service recognition for Filipino exemplars in the academe, military, and police sectors. Ten Filipino exemplars —four teachers, three soldiers, and three police officers—will be recognized for their initiatives and concrete contributions to their sectors and communities. At stake are a cash prize of Php 1,000,000, a trophy, and a gold medallion per awardee. • Soft launch of the flipbook version of the RPOC-NCR Annual Report for 2021 and the video on RPOC-NCR’s whole year’s highlights. Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and Philippine National Police Chief PGen. Dionardo Carlos are also expected to deliver their special messages to the Council’s member agencies. 6
SPECIAL ACTION COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Public Safety Committee Rolls Out DRIVERS Online System in NCR “One death is too many, According to the DOTr, Roll Out Schedule Local Government especially if road incidents can the Philippines is still Batch 1 February 24 Units be avoided,” DOTr Assistant underreporting road incident Batch 2 February 26 Secretary Mark Steven Pastor data, mainly because agencies Batch 3 Caloocan, Mandaluyong, said in his opening message still rely on manual recording. Batch 4 March 2 Pasig, and Quezon City during one of the batch rollout Worse, the data come from Batch 5 March 3 Malabon, Marikina, and of the DRIVERS online system multiple sources/agencies March 11 Valenzuela in the NCR. that report these in silos. Makati, Taguig, Las ASec. Pastor further stressed DRIVERS, a free web-based Piñas, Parañaque, and the need for accurate and open-source system for Muntinlupa reporting as part of the geo-spatially monitoring, San Juan, Manila, solution to reduce the number aims to improve the gathering Pateros, and Pasay of road incidents in the metro. of road crash data so that Navotas and LTO officials DRIVERS, which stands interventions will be largely and personnel (as for Data for Road Incident evidence based. nominated by the DOTr) Visualization Evaluation and The DRIVERS system is also Reporting System, is the expected to standardize The Drivers System’s Dashboard Page reporting system developed reports as well as the delivery by the DOTr in partnership of reports from the data with the World Bank in 2018. providers: Philippine National Last year, RPOC-NCR Police (PNP), LGU traffic expressed its support for the management agencies, and adoption of DRIVERS through the DOH. The DPWH, DOTr, the issuance of RPOC-NCR DOH, PNP, DILG and LGU Resolution No. 21 series of Planning and Engineering 2020. In February and March Units, Land Transportation this year, the Council, through O f f i ce ( LTO ) , a n d L a n d the Special Action Committee Transportation Franchising on Public Safety, introduced and Regulatory Board, the online system in the 17 meanwhile, will be the end- LGUs of the National Capital users. Region (NCR): Recent improvements The launch aimed to in DRIVERS 2.0 include capacitate DILG-NCR field features such as diagrams office representatives, traffic of crashes using movement management and enforcement codes, enhanced interface personnel, and traffic for managing and resolving investigators in each LGU on the possible duplicate records, use of the online system. and a 3D view of streets with road crash records. 7
QUEZON CITY: DIGITIZING TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT To limit direct apprehensions by traffic enforcers and discourage corruption in case of traffic violations, Quezon City enacted City Ordinance No. SP-2785, S-2018—Traffic Management Code— which promotes the no-contact apprehension through the intelligent use of CCTV cameras installed in 14 key intersections. During the initial implementation of the ordinance, the no-contact apprehension was handled by the QPAX Traffic System, a private company that offers end-to-end traffic enforcement solutions. 8
World Bank Philippines Joins National Agencies in Conduct of Road Safety Forum The RPOC-NCR held the “Virtual Forum on Road Safety” last June 23, 2020 with two objectives in mind: to gather recommendations regarding policies on road safety and peace and order, given the changes caused by the pandemic in the road and transport systems; and to gather input for the road safety plan and audit guidelines. The forum was targeted towards LGU officials --mayors, city/municipal administrators, planning officers, engineers, and city/municipal disaster risk reduction and management officers; representatives from each LGU’s Traffic Management Office; barangay functionaries, national agency representatives; and civil society organizations and transport groups. Topics mainly focused on guidelines, protocols, and policies on road safety implemented by various agencies— the MMDA, DPWH, PNP Highway Patrol Group (NCRPO-HPG), and PNP NCR Police Office (NCRPO). Mr. Harvey Ian Arbas, Technical Consultant from the World Bank Manila, likewise presented the latest on DRIVERS, the online road crash monitoring system. The forum was organized following a series of collaborative meetings in May and June this year among DILG-NCR, DPWH-NCR, DOTr, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), PNP-Highway Patrol Group, World Bank Manila, and the Special Action Committee on Public Safety Secretariat. 9
VALENZUELA: SAFE RIDE ALONG MCARTHUR HIGHWAY Photo credit: Screengrab from Valenzuela City’s 2021 audiovisual presentation on the city’s road safety programs. The City Government of Valenzuela installed CCTV cameras and light posts, and designated bike lanes along McArthur Highway, one of the city’s major thoroughfares, for riders’ safety and convenience. The establishment of bike lanes is expected to be completed by November 2021. Meanwhile, the city’s 33 barangays continued to conduct road clearing operations. These are some of the city’s best practices on road safety featured in the audio-visual presentation during the online Forum on Road Safety on June 23, 2021. 10
TsuperHero Program Initiates Vaccination of Transport Workers Against COVID-19 Exposed daily to the riding public, the transport workers The program was pilot-tested on July 31, 2021 at the such as drivers, operators, and ticket sellers are at constant Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, a 4.5-hectare risk of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. To protect “all-in-one” terminal in Parañaque City. Buses from the these personnel, the DOTr initiated the TsuperHero Metro Manila Consortium Corporation (MMCC) were Vaccination Program in July 2021 and reached out to LGUs retrofitted into vaccination facilities. The initial activity and national government agencies for support. was able to vaccinate 2,495 out of the 6,000 target workers. The program aims to bring the vaccines closer to transport On August 25, details on the vaccination program were workers by using terminals and garages as vaccination sites. shared in an online orientation conference attended by Parañaque City Mayor and RPOC-NCR Chairperson Edwin city/municipal health officials and DILG-NCR Field Office Olivarez as well as the Regional Vaccinations Operations Focal Persons from the 17 LGUs of the metro. Dubbed Center led by the DOH-MMCHD agreed to work with DOTr “TsuperHero: Kasangga sa Resbakuna” (A Vaccination Drive and adopt the initiative under the RPOC-NCR Special for Transport Workers), the webinar was also an avenue for Action Committee on Public Safety. program proponents to solicit insights on how to leverage their partnership with LGUs and national agencies. 11
Paranaque City Health Officer Olga Virtusio shared with sectors in the provision of vaccines and transport, and the webinar attendees the planning and mobilization in the tracking of inventory. processes as well as lessons learned from the Parañaque To avoid crowding inside vaccination sites, the DOTR- City pilot activity. Road Sector was tasked to lead the organization and One of the challenges observed during the activity listing of target recipients. Pre-master listing as well was the limited number of vaccinators and encoders. as discouraging walk-ins can control the volume of Moving forward, it was recommended that partnerships people. with the Philippine Coast Guard, PNP, and other Buoyed by the positive reception to the initiative, volunteer groups can be sought to augment the limited the DOTr, together with the RPOC-NCR Special supply of health workers. To mitigate any shortage of Action Committee on Public Safety, encouraged the vaccines and other supplies, another suggestion was expansion of the program’s coverage to other LGUs to seek the support of the Regional Vaccine Operations in the metro. Center, Local Vaccine Operations Center, and private 12
CALOOCAN: JAB WELL DONE The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) Caloocan City Jail Management, in coordination with the city’s local government, was able to administer the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines on 106 BJMP personnel and 1,446 of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), and the first dose on 328 PDLs on July 8–10, 2021 and September 27–29, 2021, respectively. 13
WINNER OF ROAD SAFETY “Manatili sa tamang linya, The best entry, sent by ayusin ang distansya” Dominique Ysabellle B. SLOGAN CONTEST ADVOCATES from the Sangguniang Regala of Barangay Saint Kabataan (SK) of Ignatius, garnered a total FOR LANE DISCIPLINE Barangay Saint Ignatius score of 85.4 percent. Ms. (Quezon City) bested 22 Regala and the second other shortlisted entries and third-place winners to the slogan contest, were awarded cash “2021 Search for the prizes. The fourth and Best Road Safety Slogan fifth placers received in the New Normal”. plaques of recognition. The Special Action All submissions were Committee on Public assessed based on Safety had thereafter the following criteria: adopted the winning clarity and relevance, 30 slogan as the unified road percent; originality and safety messaging for the artistic merit, 30 percent; NCR through RPOC-NCR practicality of ideas Resolution No. 35, s. presented, 20 percent; 2021. and impact and reach, The Committee’s 20 percent. slogan-making activity The announcement of the aimed to solicit entries winner is the culmination from Sangguniang of a series of activities Kabataan (SK) officials on the development of and members in the Information, Education, NCR, considering the and Communication enormous influence that materials for road safety. the youth sector has in The process started with social media. the conduct of a focus Senders of the five group discussion with highest-rated slogans information officers were invited to attend from LGUs in the region, the RPOC-NCR Third where the preliminary Quarter Full Council online plans for the slogan- meeting on September making contest were 29, 2021, where they were discussed; and the setup commended for their of the Technical Working achievement. Group (TWG) tasked to create the mechanics and criteria for judging. RANK SLOGAN ENTRY PROPONENT 1 Manatili sa tamang linya, ayusin ang Brgy. Saint Ignatius, 2 distansya. Quezon City 3 Huwag malingat, sa daan mag ingat. Brgy. San Isidro Batas trapiko’y sundin, katigasan ng Galas, Quezon City 4 ulo’y ‘wag pairalin. Brgy. Escopa IV, Dapat may disiplina sa pagmamaneho. Quezon City 5 May pamilya pang naghihintay sa pag-uwi mo. Brgy. 335, City of Laging tingnan ang mga Manila palatandaan, upang sakuna ay maiwasan. May pamilya kang Brgy. Tunasan, naghihintay sa tahanan. Muntinlupa City Tatahaking daan, tungo sa kaligtasan. Pandemyang kinakaharap ating labanan. 14
Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan Coverage Extends to Three More Thematic Areas This 2021, the Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan (OLP) expanded its coverage to include three more subject areas. Through its online event entitled “#Malasakit: Kamalayan Laban sa Sakuna at Sakit’’ on September 23, the topics of COVID-19 response, road safety, and lifestyle diseases were introduced. Such expansion in the OLP’s coverage was agreed upon by the Special Action Committee on Public Safety during the third RPOC-NCR Regular Meeting on July 16, 2021. Attendees to the September virtual event included representatives from the City and Municipal Health Office, Public Information Office, City and Municipal Fire District Office, Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Traffic Management Office, and Local Social Welfare and Development Office from the 17 LGUs in the NCR. As a flagship program of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, the OLP was first launched in 2019 in response to the growing need for an adaptive, comprehensive and immersive fire protection program for communities, urban and rural villages, and barangays. Initially, the program was implemented through house-to-house visits by BFP personnel—until the pandemic struck, necessitating a shift to virtual visits using BFP’s social media presence, especially Facebook. With the inclusion of three other topic areas in the OLP, the Committee agreed to implement the program hereon through a webinar series, with its newly formed TWG of seven member-agencies planning the specifics of the online events. One of the major agreements of the TWG was to roll out the same webinar to all barangays in the NCR. The said TWG then delivered the webinar series in October and November 2021. The target audience at the barangay level included barangay officials, barangay health emergency response teams, and community fire auxiliary groups. 15
Caloocan: OLP on “Wheels” When Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan was The online program “BFPLIX” gives out practical tips on fire launched in 2019, personnel of the Bureau prevention to communities in Caloocan. Fire Protection Caloocan City coordinated with the different Barangays and initiated an activity that it called the “OLP on the Road”. Under “OLP on the Road”, different firetrucks from each substation proceed to fire- prone areas/barangays and play an audio presentation on the topic of fire safety. The firemen have been conducting the “OLP on the Road” daily since the start of 2021. In three months, a total of 1,780 Barangays had been reached by 12 fire substations of Caloocan City. OLP FB Live is another LGU activity under Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan. Every month, the BFP-NCR Regional Office-Community Relations Section livestreams the program called “BFPLIX”, a show that features practices on how to prevent destructive fires, on its official Facebook Page. 16
SPECIAL ACTION COMMITTEE ON CRIME AND DISORDER, AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND INSURGENCY Proposed Revisions on Security Protocol Circular to Include COVID-19 Management In 2019, around 13 agencies issued a joint memorandum On October 7, 2021, the first focus group discussion (FGD) circular that defines the security protocols during crime was held among RPOC member agencies and invited subject incidents, as well as law enforcement operations in malls, matter experts from DILG and LGU offices and produced its accommodation establishments, restaurants, and other first draft of revisions on the 2019 directive. tourism establishments in the NCR. However, in 2020, the The proposed revisions updated the security protocol by COVID-19 pandemic happened, which made it to the top incorporating recommendations from representatives of the of the list of national concerns. There was thus a need to DILG-NCR, DOH-MMCHD, NCRPO, Philippine Drug Enforcement consider the impact of such safety risk unfolding. In 2020, Agency - National Capital Region (PDEA-NCR), Dangerous Drugs the Special Action Committee on CADVEI agreed to set up Board (DDB), Department of Trade and Industry - National a TWG that would revisit the provisions of the 2019 memo Capital Region (DTI-NCR), National Intelligence Coordinating and take the impact of the new crisis into consideration. Agency -National Capital Region (NICA-NCR), Joint Task The 2019 directive—Regional Joint Memorandum Circular Force-NCR (JTF-NCR), Department of Labor and Employment (RJMC) No. 1 (“Security Protocol on Crisis Management and - National Capital Region, Department of Tourism - National Other Law Enforcement Operations in Malls, Accommodation Capital Region, and Office of Civil Defense - National Capital Establishments, Restaurants, and Other Tourism Region. Provisions on minimum public health standards in all Establishments”)—covers both the security protocols, which malls and select tourism enterprises in the NCR were added. In refer to the guidelines and policies regarding the security of terms of the safety protocol, the guidelines proposed provisions people; and safety protocols, which pertain to the guidelines on COVID-19 management as well as man-made hazards. and policies in ensuring public safety. The draft was then sent to the participants for further feedback. Another FGD will be conducted to finalize and 17 approve the proposed amendments.
CADVEI Reviews Peacekeeping Roles of Barangay Tanods in Community Response Activities Barangay tanods, as the community volunteer- differentiate the barangay tanod’s role in various watchmen, perform a variety of functions in the name activities vis-à-vis those of the Barangay Peacekeeping of peace and order. They are called upon to prevent or Action Team, national government agencies engaged in respond to the barangay’s issues on crime, illegal drugs, law enforcement, deputized personnel, etc. insurgency, trafficking, and even disasters., However, for In the first focus group discussion (FGD) on “Barangay almost two years now they found themselves attending Peacekeeping Operations” held via the Zoom platform to another kind of disaster: the COVID-19 pandemic. on June 22, 2021, participants—particularly the NCRPO, Like other peace and order frontliners—such as the PNP the Liga ng mga Barangay - National Capital Region, and and their deputized security personnel—the barangay the field officers from the DILG-NCR—deliberated on the tanods have been at the frontline of LGUs’ COVID-19 roles of the PNP, the barangay tanod, and the deputized response activities in the NCR. They have assisted barangay personnel as well as the limits of their respective the PNP and other national agencies, and the city/ functions. Moderated by the RPOC-NCR Secretariat, the municipal governments, for instance, in activities such FGD aimed to define the rules of engagement, given as distribution of food reliefs or ayudas, nightly patrols that peacekeeping is a shared responsibility with other during curfew hours, provision of security for community government teams or agencies. pantries, and even transport of COVID-19 patients. A follow-up FGD was held in September this year. Results Given the multi-faceted role of a barangay tanod, the of the discussions will be incorporated in the soon-to- Special Action Committee on CADVEI recognized the be released memorandum that will set the guidelines need to review and update the protocol on barangay- on how to maintain peace and order during COVID-19 level peacekeeping operations so as to, among others, pandemic response activities in the NCR. Quezon City’s 2021 barangay tanod skills enhancement training program covered both COVID-19 and barangay peacekeeping as key topics. Photo credit: Photo from the City of Pasig. 18
Muntinlupa: Salaam Police Volunteers Pateros: There have been cases where law-abiding Recovering Muslims were unjustly profiled as involved in insurgent or terrorist activities. To correct the PWUDs misconception, the Muntinlupa City Muslim Affairs As Office established the Salaam Police Volunteers corps to assist police and Philippine Army Frontliners reserves in maintaining peace and order during the enforcement of the community quarantine. 19 Often, volunteers would join the police or army units in manning checkpoints or conduct roving operations, helping diffuse tensions when accosting Muslim groups and individuals. The volunteers regularly conduct dialogues with the police to foster better understanding of procedures as well as undergo training on such topics as detection of early signs of extremist activities and management of bomb threats. Recovering persons who used drugs (PWUDS) in the Lingap Pateros Community Based Drug Rehabilitation Program became part of the COVID-19 frontliners in their respective barangays. With assistance from the barangays kagawad and tanod, several PWUDs were assigned to barangay outposts and checkpoints to ensure peace and order in the community. Others helped transport LGU health workers and assisted in the distribution of cash subsidies.
Harmonized Individually, the NICA-NCR and October 2021, which aimed I-Hayag JTF-NCR run orientation sessions to give students and school Initiative as part of their regular programs administrators a wider awareness Readied for to prevent acts that are deemed of the government’s programs the Opening inimical to national interest. To to counter CTG recruitment of Classes fully leverage on the two agencies’ activities. The sessions were to be efforts to counter activities of pilot-tested in LGU-run schools DILG Secretary Commends communist terrorist groups (CTG) and universities in the metro, in RPOC-NCR’s Efforts to in schools and universities, the collaboration with CHED-NCR and Harmonize Efforts Against Special Action Committee on the Association of Local Colleges CTG Activities CADVEI held a series of meetings and Universities Commission on to discuss and agree upon a Accreditation - NCR Chapter. strategy that harmonizes multiple “Ihayag” means “to manifest” agencies’ counter-terrorist group in Filipino. The “I” in “i-hayag” orientation initiatives in the NCR. refers to “information”. In the group discussions held in In line with the agreed plan, June, representatives from NICA- the four batches of orientation NCR, JTF-NCR, PIA-NCR, and the sessions in October were DILG-NCR resolved that both NICA- attended by participants from NCR and JTF-NCR undertake their 16 locally managed colleges and orientation efforts jointly, with universities in the metro. In the support from the Commission webinar series, members of the on Higher Education-NCR (CHED- TWG as well as resource speakers NCR), PIA-NCR, and DILG-NCR. from the local youth development The group further decided offices of each LGU in the region to conduct the harmonized provided their response to the orientation sessions entitled issues raised by participants. ““I-Hayag: Makabayang Mag- The Committee plans to expand aaral: Youth Orientation on the i-Hayag campaign to the rest Building Patriotism and Good of the country. Citizenship” in four batches in 20
Enforcers’ Training Is Key Due to Technical Nature of Cybercrimes Four specialized units/centers in charge of enforcing the the spread of the COVID-19 virus, new cyber dangers cybercrime statutes explained the country’s Cybercrime have increased. With people transitioning into digital Prevention Act of 2012 and the latest on cybercrimes to platforms, digital criminals saw more opportunities to the attendees of the Special Action Committee on CADVEI’s exploit their targets, added PNP Chief PGen Guillermo inter-agency teleconference last August 31, 2021. Entitled Lorenzo Eleazar. “Be in the Know: The Philippine Cybercrime Law”, the Aside from identifying the salient points of Republic Act webinar also aimed to thresh out possible issues and 10175, speakers from the four units/centers expounded concerns among stakeholders regarding the Act. on their special functions and the programs and activities These units (or centers)—the Philippine National Police in place. Anti-Crime Group, the Department of Justice’s Office The types of online lawlessness are many. They range of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC), the National Bureau of from phishing, sexploitation, online libel, fake news, Investigation - Cybercrime Division and the Department to cryptocurrency scams and cyber terrorism. Atty. of Information and Communications Technology’s Angiereen Medina from DOJ-OOC highlighted the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center—were importance of capacity development training for created under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (or those handling/responding to cases because of the Republic Act 10175) in acknowledgment of the technical cybercrimes’ technical and trans-border nature. nature of different types of cyber cases. Representatives from RPOC-NCR member agencies Mayor Edwin Olivarez, the RPOC-NCR Chairperson, and from Local Peace and Order Councils of 17 LGUs, noted that because people have gone online more than as well as field officers and cluster heads of DILG-NCR, ever partly due to the lockdowns enforced to prevent participated in the event. 21
SPECIAL ACTION COMMITTEE ON ANTI-ILLEGAL DRUGS Monthly Meets with ICAD’s Advocacy Cluster-NCR Tackle New Challenges The RPOC-NCR’s Special Action Committee on Anti- Likewise, the August 26 agenda included the Joint NCRPO- illegal Drugs and the Inter-Agency Committee On Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Anti-Illegal Drugs - NCR (ICAD-NCR) Advocacy Cluster Region’s (PDEA-NCR) “Friend or Foe Identification System,” meet monthly to align their efforts on: (a) activities for a proposal that aims to improve coordination and prevent implementation for the year such as the #Pagahom conflicting law enforcement operations between and among webinar and orientation-webinars on some of the law enforcement operatives during anti-drug operations. DDB resolutions issued in earlier years, including the Following the discussion, the cooperating agencies “Protocol When Handling Children Allegedly involved agreed to carry on their anti-illegal drugs initiatives and in Dangerous Drugs”; (b) the status of the illegal drug advocacies in a coordinated manner. situations in the NCR, including the level of drug On October 21, the meeting agenda highlighted the need affectation of barangays; and (c) highlights in law to train law enforcement agencies on an emerging trend enforcement agencies’ anti-illegal drugs operations. in organized crime: the illegal drug transactions on the The monthly meeting also serves as an avenue for LGUs Dark Web. Illegal transactions such as barter of drugs to present the best practices in their own anti-illegal as well as firearms, credit cards and fake identification drug campaigns. cards can happen on the Dark Web as such is a part of the Topics related to current events this year were also raised Internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines. in these sessions. On May 27, Assistant Regional Director It was also in the October joint meeting where results of Irvin John Coderis of PDEA-NCR presented the salient the Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) performance audit for features of PDEA Memorandum Circular No. 2O2O-O2O, 2019 and 2O20 from the regional audit team composed of which covers the coordination policy in the conduct of representatives from the DILG-NCR, PDEA-NCR, NCRPO, anti-drug operation of agencies among PDEA operating Metrobank Foundation, and Caritas Manila were revealed. unit and PNP, National Bureau of lnvestigation, and Bureau of Customs anti-illegal drug units. 22
#PAGAHOM: Empowering the Youth to Stand Against Illegal Drugs About six out of 100 Filipinos aged 10-69 years old have tried dangerous drugs and substances at least once in their lifetime, according to a DDB 2019 survey.1 Among the Philippine regions, the National Capital Region ranks second in terms of number of lifetime users, most of which had been turning to dangerous drugs/substances starting the age of 22 years. Given this context, how can the youth dissuade their peers from substance abuse? More importantly, how do the youth view the government’s current campaign on illicit drugs? These are just two of the questions tackled in a series of webinars for the youth sector entitled “#Pagahom: A Webinar Series on Prevention Science and Intervention Against Illicit Drugs”. Pagahom is the Visayan word for “empowered”. Fifty participants from Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) from the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, and Quezon City attended the second of the #Pagahom series of online events on April 8, 2021. #Pagahom is an education platform that intends to raise the youth and students’ awareness of drug-related harm and of social influences on drug use as well as the drug prevalence among peers. In his inspirational message, DILG Undersecretary Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri underscored the role of the SK in every community’s drug rehabilitation program, “the heart and basis of the country’s drug clearing program and prevention campaign” and encouraged all SKs to replicate or conduct a drug education activity within their community. Meanwhile, Prof. Grace Duka-Pante, director of the ASEAN Training Center for Preventive Drug Education, reminded the participants that the “You only live once (YOLO)” attitude comes with it some concomitant risks, and the youth should instead go for the “You only live once so think twice” mindset. She enjoined the youth instead to take the risk of becoming part of the change in nation-building in the here and now. The National Capital Region Police Office, meanwhile, shared the programs that have been designed to help the youth resist the use of illegal drugs. These programs are the Drug Abuse and Resistance Education (DARE), Resistance Education for the Use of Drugs (REFUSED), Resistance Education Against Drugs for the Youth (READY), and the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo project (KKDAT). The next series of webinars for the rest of the year will be targeted toward the SKs in the remaining cities and municipality in the NCR. 1 2019 National Household Survey on the Patterns and Trends of Drug Abuse. 23
Makati: PAGASA for the Youth PAGASA SA MAKATI is a community-based integrated arts for prevention and education campaign in schools. Unlike other traditional anti-illegal drugs educational campaigns that utilize formal seminars and symposia, PAGASA sa Makati uses the theater- and-arts approach and methodology and the Bridging Leadership Framework to engage young people and their community in an information, education, and communication campaign against illegal drugs. In 2020, due to the global pandemic, the face-to-face implementation of the campaign program was discontinued, and the program shifted online through vlogs and infographics posted in social platforms. Some of the major activities conducted were: • Festival of Plays that showcased talents of students and collaborators before an audience composed of teachers, barangay officials, and parents; • Online Basic Integrated Theater Arts Workshop (BITAW) and PAGASA sa Makati training to equip newly hired personnel and collaborators; • Vlogging COVID-19 participated by teachers, students, the PAGASA sa Makati team and barangays, which aimed to share information about COVID-19 through social media platforms. 24
Webinar Revisits DILG Usec. Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri, in his inspirational message, Protocol on encourages the region’s ICAD to create its own website where data on How to Handle Children Involved drug affectations in the area are collated and presented. in Illegal Drugs The way children involved in illegal drug cases are as children at risk (CAR) and children in conflict with treated by a national justice system reflects the level the law (CICL). of importance a country gives to the rule of law. With Undersecretary Cruz underscored the need to assign this rationale in mind, the ICAD-NCR’s Advocacy properly trained personnel handling CARs. On the other Cluster through the DILG-NCR conducted a webinar hand, he explained the protocols when screening and on June 11, 2021 to refresh the knowledge of persons assessing CICLs to determine their risk for level of drug in authority on how to handle children involved in use and dependency; the various treatment and care dangerous drugs. programs depending on the level of drug use severity About 200 representatives from the ADAC, National of a case; and the importance of community support Capital Region Police Office-Women and Child during the aftercare and reintegrate of the child back Protection Desk (NCRPO-WCPD), the DepEd NCR Division into society. Superintendents, the Local Council for the Protection The event drew questions and brought to the forefront of Children, the Local Social Welfare and Development the challenges faced by implementers handling children Office, and the City/Municipal Health Officers attended involved in illegal drug cases. Among the procedures and the event via the Zoom platform. points discussed and clarified during the open forum were: Dangerous Drugs Board Undersecretary Gilberto Cruz how to handle a child when a police station lacks a facility discussed the salient points of DDB Regulation No. 6, for CICLs; the need to collaborate so that a guardian/parent series of 2019 entitled “Protocol in Handling Children or social worker will always be with the child as early as the Allegedly Involved in Dangerous Drugs,” which drug use assessment phase; and what to do when there is includes guidelines on how to handle those classified no way to prove that a child is a minor. Quezon City: The New Molave Youth Home for Children in Conflict with the Law The Molave Youth Home is a residential and rehabilitation center for CICLs with pending cases before the Quezon City Family Courts. The venue provides temporary and secure custody of children by an interdisciplinary team of social workers, psychologists, doctors, nurses, teachers, and house parents. To ensure the welfare and protection of the children by providing complete facilities and bigger dormitory space, the Molave Youth Home was transferred to Barangay Payatas from Barangay NS Amoranto on May 18, 2021. The new facility, which features one all-girls’ dormitory and 16 all-boys’ dormitories, can accommodate up to 340 CICLs per day. As of September 15, 2021, 238 clients were in the care of the Molave Youth Home. 25
Malabon: Reinforcing Its CBDRP Resources in the Midst of a Pandemic When the pandemic came and individuals’ mobility was alcohol and substance abuse and deliver the necessary limited in compliance with health protocols, Malabon treatment. decided to shift its CBDRP strategy by prioritizing With the help of USAID Renewhealth in coordination the reinforcement of its number of Screening, Brief with the DOH, Malabon City was able to produce two Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) screeners. additional trainers and four additional screeners, who The SBIRT screeners assess clients through the Alcohol, now complement the existing community facilitators and Smoking, and Substance Involvement Test. They help City of Malabon Anti-Drug Abuse Office personnel, thus medical personnel determine the clients’ risk level for improving the city’s capacity to implement the CBDRP. 26
ICAD-NCR and RPOC-NCR Tap Technology to Coordinate Inter-agency Operations On August 5, the Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs and the ICAD-NCR Advocacy Cluster set their first focus group discussion (FGD) on a proposed system that will help law enforcers synchronize their operations. The system is envisioned to help users monitor all coordinated and uncoordinated anti-illegal drug operations as well as hasten and simplify the activities between NCRPO and PDEA- NCR. Called the Friend or Foe ldentification System (FFIS), the system allows a Command Center to monitor multi-agency actions and sends alerts to concerned teams. Agencies can easily detect or identify a friendly force within a certain range from their FFIS devices. In the second FGD, which was held on August 17, participants detailed the tasks of member- agencies in the project as well as the logistical requirements. The FGD at this stage included representatives from the PDEA-NCR, NCRPO, DILG-NCR, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the NCR, and DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute, and the Philippine Space Agency. The project proposal was later presented during the eighth Joint Monthly Meeting of the Committee and the ICAD-NCR Advocacy Cluster on August 26, 2021. As a next step, it was agreed that the proposal would be discussed further with NCRPO and PDEA as users of the system, taking into consideration the latest unified guidelines on anti-illegal drugs operations. 27
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