The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) in Negros Oriental has passed a resolution recommending that the local chief executives be recognized as Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) Seal awardees.
Brigadier General Joey Escanillas, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said this award will be presented by the PPOC or provincial government to local government units (LGUs) that have demonstrated strategies in counteracting communist terrorist group’s (CTG) actions in their respective areas.
“The SIPS Seal is more or less the same with the Seal of Good Local Governance of DILG awarded to outstanding municipalities and cities for their accomplishments. This is recognizing the mayors’ efforts in preventing the resurgence of CTGs in their area,” said Escanillas.
The province will be formally declared with SIPS status on June 5 during the next PPOC meeting, which will be attended by all mayors in the province.
In November last year, local officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the military and police in a bid to step up the campaign against insurgency in the province.
The MOU also called on mayors and barangay officials to monitor the presence and activities of suspected urban-based communist groups and report to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police; initiate the filing of cases against persons financing terrorism; and work with the security sector in verifying groups that may have links to the rebel groups.
Escanillas recalled that under the MOU, the LGUs have to submit a monthly report to the PPOC on their initiatives to prevent the resurgence of CTGs in their area.
The reports would also include rebels who surrendered in their area, and how the LGU prevented or monitored and provided assistance to the surrenderees.
The SIPS focuses only on CTGs and the report has to be aligned on that effort, the army official said.
Mayors who are compliant in sustaining the SIPS status in their respective municipalities will be awarded with the SIPS Seal.
The mayors will be evaluated quarterly based on the parameters set in the MOU. (PIA-7 Negros Oriental)