The Regional Peace and Order Council – National Capital Region (RPOC-NCR) held its first quarter meeting on March 24, 2022, with all 55 council member agencies represented. A blended teleconference format was used with the Executive Committee assembled in person at the Mayor’s Hall in Parañaque City and other attendees joining via Zoom.

RPOC Chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez reiterated his message to work smarter in the face of the various challenges confronting NCR. Chairman Olivarez highlighted the need to revisit, review, and vet these concerns, and reassess these based on the Council’s mandates and priorities.

With the May 2022 elections looming in the horizon, Chairman Olivarez reaffirmed the council’s collective duty to ensure the success of the 2022 Elections by providing the necessary security and public safety services across the region. In a show of collective support for the holding of trouble-free elections in May, all members present in the meeting made a Pledge of Commitment for Safe and Orderly Elections.

Regional Line Agencies provided the Council updates on the pressing concerns included in the agenda:

Atty. Nesrin Cali, Election Officer, Parañaque City, COMELEC-NCR discussed Local Campaign regulations following the IATF Community Quarantine Guidelines in NCR and the salient provisions contained in COMELEC Resolutions 10732 and 10769.

MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando S. Artes, on the other hand, elaborated on the IATF-prescribed guidelines on the implementation of Alert Level 1 Community Quarantine Protocols in NCR.

National Security Council Director Juan Francisco Garcia briefed the Council on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its effects on the Philippine economy. Philippine imports of iron and steel from Russia and imports of wheat and wood products from Ukraine are expected to be disrupted and add to inflationary pressures domestically.

In regard to the devolution of national government programs to LGUs as a result of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling, Undersecretary Benjamin Reyes of the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) called for the reinforcement of drug rehabilitation programs at the local level. Usec. Reyes also called for the implementation of Board Resolution No. 5 s. 2021 referencing RPOC-NCR Resolution No. 25, year 2021 with the title “Resolution Supporting the Call to Establish Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in the Northern Part of the NCR.”

The Council also discussed updates on the implementation of E.O. 305, series of 2004, which devolves to Municipal and City governments the registration of fishing vessels that are three gross tonnage and below. PCol. (Atty.) Oliver Sy Tanseco of the PNP – Maritime Group – Regional Maritime Unit (PNP-MG-RMU) highlighted the need for NCR LGUs to enact or update existing ordinances in relation to E.O. 305, which includes securing police clearance for said vessels from the Maritime Group.

PMGen Felipe Rivera Natividad, the newly appointed Regional Director of NCRPO and Co-Vice Chairperson of RPOC-NCR, provided updates on the peace and order situation in NCR, particularly pertaining to election security protocols. Relatedly, BGen. Marceliano Teofilo, Commander of JTF-NCR and RPOC-NCR Co-Vice Chairperson, gave a briefing on the threat situation in NCR.

Also presented were the first quarter accomplishment reports and ways forward of the council’s five Special Action Committees, namely: Crime and Disorder, Violent Extremism and Insurgency, Anti-Illegal Drugs, Public Safety, and Administrative Governance.

The meeting was concluded with five resolutions presented and approved by the Council:

Welcoming the Newly Appointed NCRPO Regional Director and RPOC-NCR Vice-Chairperson PMGen Felipe Rivera Natividad;
Expressing the Gratitude of the Agencies who supported RPOC-NCR First Quarter Full Council Meeting for CY 2022 by Providing Resource Persons;
Supporting the Establishment of Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DATRC) in the northern part of the National Capital Region and Encouraging NCR LGUs to do the same;
Encouraging concerned NCR LGUs to enact an ordinance and/or update their respective ordinances based on EO 305 Series of 2004 Devolving to Municipal Vessels Three (3) Gross Tonnage Below; and,
Expanding the membership of the SAC on Public Safety to include Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).