Republic of the Philippines

BFP6 List of Fire Officer I Applicants who passed the Panel Interview

With the aim of addressing hunger and ensuring food security in the region by strengthening the capacities of barangays towards sustainable agricultural initiatives, the Regional Launching of the Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas At Gulay (HAPAG) Program was held on June 21, 2023 at Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City. Among the program’s strategies is the intensification and fostering of agricultural activities such as barangay community gardening, wherein households and communities are encouraged to produce fresh, healthy and affordable fruits and vegetables from their backyards and spaces through the establishment of community garden in barangay with vacant areas. In his message, Regional Director Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero explained that the essence of HAPAG is to cultivate not only plants but also nurture greener and healthier future for the generations to come. “HAPAG is a government initiative that enables different community sectors to connect with nature, nurture the earth, and open different economic opportunities. We aim that community gardens will promote sustainable gardening practices, ecological balance, and teach the young generation the importance of local food systems,” said RD Ingeniero. Being the showcase barangay, it is aimed that Calumpang HAPAG community garden will serve as the best example of where different community gardens throughout the region will be able to replicate. In a two-hundred square meter land area, the community garden of Barangay Calumpang comprises various kinds of plants and vegetables such as leafy and cruciferous vegetables, fruit-bearing plants, legumes, herbal plants and root crops. The garden is enclosed with short bamboos with hanging colorful containers formed to a flower. Beside of some plants and vegetables are short quotes giving information on how it is known to the locals. This initiative entice visitors to stroll around more in the garden. Aside from RD Ingeniero, also present during the launching were DILG Iloilo City Director Oscar T. Lim, Jr.; Calumpang Punong Barangay Roberto C. Niño, Jr.; Iloilo City Councilor Miguel S. Treñas; Zarlina B. Cuello, DA OIC Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations; Iñigo D. Garingalao, Iloilo City Agriculturist; Eleazar O. Carmen, Regional Chair- Agri-Fishery Youth Council; and Marivic Pastolero representing the Iloilo Farmers Association. Local government units are enjoined to lead the promotion of barangay community gardening by including its importance and benefits as well as the products produced through the community garden. Technical and financial assistance to barangays shall also be provided particularly in the implementation of agricultural activities and provision of agricultural support services.

The top five local government units (LGUs) with the best Local Economic Development (LED) Business Plans presented and defended their plans to a panel on June 9, 2023, at the Hotel Del Rio, Iloilo City. Two LGUs, namely the City of Talisay in Negros Occidental and the Municipality of Badiangan in the province of Iloilo, were declared winners after the presentation. The LED Business Plans submitted by the LGUs were reviewed, assessed, and rated by the DILG TMT and Western Visayas Local Governance Resource Consortium (WVLGRC) Lead LED Coach, Mr. Francis Gentoral, and the top five best plans chosen were given the opportunity to present and defend their plans face-to-face. The five LGUs that presented their LED Business Plans were Santa Barbara, with a goal to be the Green Corn Capital of the province of Iloilo; Banate, which aims to revive the making of fish polvoron in the municipality; Jordan, Guimaras, as the Home of Tultul Artisans; Talisay City’s integration of the coconut industry with Agri-Tourism; and Badiangan, Iloilo, focusing on the revival of the ginger industry. The two winning LGUs are given the privilege of presenting their LED Business Plan at the launching of the new program of the DILG called “RISE,” which will be hosted by DILG Region 6.  The invited panelists were experts from the financial institution and national government agency, namely Assistant Vice President Giovani T. Baoy of LBP Iloilo Lending Center, Land Bank of the Philippines, and Ms. Keithlyn Sarah Bernardino, Supervising Science Research Specialist and Head of R&D Management Section of the Department of Science and Technology VI (DOST). Aside from the comments and feedback from the panelists, they also provided information on the assistance for businesses that their institution is offering and that LGUs may avail of in order to improve their economic business plans. Local Economic Development for Local Government Units, or LED4LGUs, is a program based on the LED process that emphasizes the enabling role of LGUs in promoting economic growth and employment generation. As an enabler of local economic development, LGUs are responsible for creating a favorable environment for business development and success. The curriculum on LED4LGUs offers a capacity development framework on LED that can guide the design and implementation of LED capacity building programs for LGUs. The curriculum directly supports the DILG thrusts on creating business-friendly and competitive LGUs and the national government’s efforts to improve the country’s ranking and performance in terms of global competitiveness.

BFP6 List of Fire Officer I Applicants who passed the Physical Agility Test

BFP6 List of Fire Officer I Applicants who passed the Qualifying Written Examination

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, ANTIQUE – Since the time when the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was launched in the region this year 2023, the local government of Antique has already been supporting the said program and gaining positive impacts.  The DILG – Antique, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Antique and other stakeholders, officially launched BIDA Program in the province on 13 June 2023 at the EBJ Freedom Park. Employing sectoral partnerships, the BIDA program Provincial Launching in Antique involved series of activities including press conferences, Zumba, poster making contest, and the launching of Balay Silangan in San Remigio, Antique. DILG Provincial Director John Ace A. Azarcon, in his message, emphasizes that the BIDA program underscores a holistic approach in countering the proliferation of illegal and dangerous drugs, hence, encourages multi-sectoral participation. Further, DILG Assistant Regional Director Maria Calpiza Sardua congratulated the Province of Antique for having 99.66% of its barangays declared as drug cleared/free yet posing a challenge to continue to unite and remain active against any activity involving illegal drugs. “Our program to fight against illegal drugs will be more effective if members of each sector of our community work together with the local and national governments,” ARD Sardua added. The agencies that are in partnership with the DILG supporting BIDA are the Peace, Order and Public Safety Office (POPS) of the province of Antique, Provincial Health Office (PHO), Provincial Information Office (PIO), Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Education (DepEd), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). After the official opening of the program, the launching activities commenced with the poster-making contest as one of the ways in promoting BIDA in which sixteen (16) high school students participated from various schools of Antique. Virgil T. Bacallan of San Roque Ezpeleta National High School, Lerra Win Miranda of Antique Vocational School, and Charles Nerecena of Diclum National High School emerged as first, second, and third winners of the poster-making contest respectively.   Jaren Alvarez Centina of San Pedro National High School received the “ARD’s Choice” special prize from the DILG Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director Maria Calpiza Sardua. On the other hand, the inauguration of Balay Silangan in San Remigio, Antique, the fourth of its kind in Antique, was also held during the BIDA program launching. The Balay Silangan is a facility that temporarily shelters drug offenders to reform them into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society. The municipalities of Patnongon, Hamtic, and Tibiao in Antique officially launched their respective Balay Silangan in previous years. The Local Government Units are then expected to implement year-round, consistent, and sustained programs, projects, and activities relative to the implementation of the BIDA Program – the DILG’s medium to long term program in the national campaign against the illegal drugs. This ultimately seeks to improve quality of life and safeguard the Filipino people from criminality and the ill effects of drugs, in a manner that is within the framework of law and with respect for human rights.

“We have to make a statement. We are going to show our people that the government is serious about this war on drugs. There will be house cleansing, and no one will be spared.” Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. said this Monday afternoon on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) or World Drug Day as he stressed that government and law enforcement agencies need to become “role models” in the campaign against illegal drugs. Abalos previously announced the conduct of random drug testing in the DILG, its attached agencies, and local governments as part of the Department’s Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program. At least 50 police officers have also been file with criminal and administrative cases for allegedly committing irregularities in the seizure of P6.7 billion worth of “shabu” in October last year. “We do not believe in shortcuts. We believe in the rule of law. Trust in government must be sustained,” Abalos said during a forum on mental health and substance use by the Department of Health and USAID RenewHealth Project. With the theme “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention,” this year’s IDADAIT theme focuses on the need to end stigma and discrimination and strengthen prevention which, according to Abalos, is in sync with the BIDA Program’s principles of putting primacy on prevention and rehabilitation. “Everyone has a role in this fight. We will increase awareness against the use of illegal drugs, strengthen our community-based drug rehabilitation program, empower the youth, engage with the business sector, and promote an active lifestyle,” he explained.###

In line with the celebration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) or World Drug Day on June 26, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. today called for a whole-of-nation approach in the fight against illegal drugs and urged the public to become Buhay Ingatan Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program champions within their communities. “We have always emphasized that the war against illegal drugs cannot be won by the government alone; it requires a whole-of-nation approach with everyone’s participation. Tayo mismo sa ating mga pamayanan ang dapat na manguna sa laban na ito. On World Drug Day, let’s all be BIDA Champions,” Abalos said. The DILG Chief said that just like the BIDA Program, the celebration of IDADAIT 2023 seeks to strengthen action and cooperation against illegal drugs, highlighting collective participation among all stakeholders. Through DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2023-088, Abalos urged LGUs to coordinate with their respective local anti-drug abuse council to spearhead and participate in anti-illegal drug activities such as drug prevention awareness seminars, display and use the official IDADAIT poster and theme in their respective offices; production, distribution and/or sharing of information materials on anti-illegal drug programs and activities; and the usage of hashtags #WorldDrugDay and #IDADAITPH2023 during activities and for social media posts. LGUs are also encouraged to participate in the series of fora organized by the DILG from June 26-29, 2023, which includes orientation on the accreditation of civil society organizations on anti-illegal drugs, a forum on Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation (CBDR) good practices, a forum on drug rehabilitation and interventions for persons deprived of liberty; and the launching of the Anti-Drug Abuse Council portal. Likewise, Abalos also asked LGUs and DILG offices to conduct a pledge of commitment to the BIDA program and to a drug-free Philippines during the flag-raising ceremony. As a member state of the United Nations, the Philippines has celebrated the IDADAIT for 35 years since its institutionalization by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 264, s. 1988.###

BFP6 List of Qualified Applicants for Fire Officer I

Upang masiguro na aktibong kumikilos ang local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs) para suportahan ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga, magsasagawa ang Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ng taunang performance audit ng lahat ng ADACs sa buong bansa. “The war on drugs is everyone’s business. Hindi lamang ito laban ng DILG, ng Philippine National Police (PNP), o ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Ito ay laban nating lahat kaya dapat nating siguruhin na kasama natin ang mga pamahalaang lokal sa kampanyang ito,” ani DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. Sakop ng isasagawang audit ang lahat ng 81 provincial ADACs, 146 city ADACs, at 1,488 municipal ADACs sa buong bansa. Sila ay susuriin batay sa mga sumusunod na criteria: organized local ADAC; conduct of quarterly meetings; allocation of funds for the implementation of anti-drug activities indicated in the Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan; implementation of ADAC plans and programs; support for ADACs in component local government units (LGUs) at; innovation. Binigyang diin ni Abalos ang kahalagahan ng papel ng mga ADAC sa whole-of-nation approach na ipinapatupad ng DILG laban sa iligal na droga sa pamamagitan ng Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program. Aniya, bahagi ng mandato ng mga ADAC ang pagtatayo at pagpapaigting ng Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation (CBDR) upang alalayan ang persons who use drugs (PWUDS) na magbagong buhay. “Hindi lamang din natatapos sa rehabilitasyon ang tungkulin ng ADACs at mga LGUs. Kailangan siguruhin natin na magiging produktibong kabahagi sila ng lipunan sa kanilang paglabas sa rehabilitation centers sa pamamagitan ng skills training activities at iba pang reintegration programs,” ani Abalos. Maaari rin aniyang makipag-ugnayan ang mga LGUs at ADACs sa mga non-government organizations (NGOs) at pribadong sektor upang mapalakas ang kanilang rehabilitation at drug education campaign bilang kabahagi ng whole-of-nation approach ng pamahalaan kontra droga. Sa aspeto naman ng law enforcement, pinaalalahanan ni Abalos ang mga lokal na opisyal ipagpatuloy ang puspusang drug clearing operations sa kanilang mga lugar. “Iyan ang dalawang pagtutuunan natin ng pansin sa ilalim ng BIDA Program—supply at demand reduction. Magpapatuloy ang maigting na police anti drug operations at kasabay niyan, tutugunan natin ang ugat ng problema sa droga tulad ng kakulangan sa edukasyon at awareness, kahirapan, at unhealthy lifestyle,” dagdag ng Kalihim. ###