GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/24 October) — The provincial government of South Cotabato has allocated around P10 million for the implementation of various plans, programs and activities next year of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC).
South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Friday such funding was based on the budget recently endorsed by the council, which is the highest security and peace and order policy-making body of the province.
She said the peace and order budget was included in the 2015 Annual Investment Program of the province.
The appropriation will mainly be utilized for the rehabilitation and maintenance of “move, shoot and communication facilities,” conduct of PPOC meetings, provision of subsidy to law enforcement agencies and assistance to security forces in anti-terrorism campaign, she said.
Fuentes said part of the funds were allotted for the local government’s regular support to local units of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology other security agencies.
“We will acquire more communication equipment and provide support to improve the mobility of our local security and law enforcement units,” she said.
Under the P10 million peace and order budget, the governor said they allotted around P3 million or 30 percent for intelligence and confidential fund.
Meantime, Fuentes said they are working on the release of additional funds to support the operations of security and law enforcement units based within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.
She said they have allotted around P2.2 million for such purpose based on Supplemental Budget No. 3 recently approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board.
The governor she said have set aside an additional P500,000 each as support to the anti-terrorism campaign, operations of local security and law enforcement units and confidential fund.
She said they have earmarked P700,000 as support to the Police Regional Office 12’s crime laboratory. (MindaNews)