At the 19th anniversary celebration of the Local Government Code.

Balay Mindanaw and Department of the Interior and Local Government-Region 10 go on board into a yearlong Mindanao-wide campaign of establishing the Mindanao Peace and Order Coordinating Council (MPOCC). This was affirmed by the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and DILG-10 Regional Director Loreto Bagwani during the 19th anniversary celebration of the Local Government Code of 1991 last October 8.

“Yes this is an idea whose time has come,” said Bishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ DD.

With the all arching goal of making peace work in Mindanao through the local peace processes, this effort hopes to actualize and help strengthen the already existing Regional Peace and Order Councils in every region in Mindanao, particularly Regions 9, 10, 11, 12 and Caraga, including that of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Presenting before the DILG head and officers as well as members of the Regional Peace and Order Council of Region 10, Balay Mindanaw’s Executive Director Paul Richard A. Paraguya conveyed the proposed convergence of RPOCs in Mindanao for possible coordination and synchronization of peace and development initiatives at the Mindanao level.

Paul shared that there are ongoing peace efforts being done for Mindanao, both at the local and national levels, led by government agencies and civil society groups as well. At the provincial level, he added, there are already existing initiatives where joint LGU-NGO/CSO schemes have been seen to work and effective, especially in keeping the peace in the community by bringing the basic services to inaccessible peoples and places.

The Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental for instance has put emphasis on its Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) that actively backs up the issue of peace, security, development and good governance in the municipalities it covered. Worth sharing is the effort of the PPOC and the Municipal Peace and Order Council in Balingasag by providing the basic services to the community, like farm-to-market road, electrification and health services, among others, thus securing and developing Sitio Lantad.

But the Mindanao Peace and Order Coordinating Council is one proposed effort at the Mindanao level, where a proactive coordination will be set up between and among the LGUs, government agencies (including military and police), civil society organizations and the church.