Provincial Legal Office Begins Outreach Programs for 2018

To help ensure peace and order at the barangay level, the Provincial Legal Office (PLO) kick-started their first round of Barangay Legal Outreach Programs (BLOP) for the year in the Municipality of Dumanjug last February 8, 2018.

The BLOP is a training-workshop for barangay officials and workers in the proper understanding, application and execution of their functions through seminars on the laws relating to their public function.

Dumanjug Mayor Reniero Asentista lauded the Province for their proactive steps to strengthen public order.

“Angay na makabalo kamo (barangay officials and staff) unsa ang inyong mga papel ug responsibilidad isip piniliang opisyales sa barangay,” Asentista emphasized.

PLO department head Atty. Orvi Ortega said the importance of the BLOP is to get rid of misguided notions and ambiguities concerning barangay functions, and to assure that personnel are always ready to serve the public. “Para dili nata mahadlok sa unsa atong buhaton isip opisyal,” Ortega added.

Around 300 barangay officials from 18 barangays attended the BLOP seminar, which was separated into three segments. Three separate seminars were conducted for the barangay captains, barangay tanods and the lupong tagapamayapa.

Sessions addressing issues related to rules and procedures on arrests and seizures were given to barangay chiefs and tanods.

Members of the lupong tagapamayapa were also guided on the provisions of Republic Act 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, including its procedure of mediation and the importance of the Barangay Protection Order (BPO) by the Philippine Alternative Dispute Resolution, Inc. (PADRi).

Discussions on forensic evidence preservation procedures were also tackled by PNP Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) personnel.

Another round of BLOP will soon be conducted for the remaining barangays in Dumanjug town.

www.cebu.gov.ph