By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG
CITY - The provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte led by
Governor Roberto Y. Uy held Thursday a joint Provincial Development Council
(PDC) and Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting at Top Plaza Hotel
this city.
The
first PDC-PPOC meeting under the Uy administration was attended by provincial
officials, city/municipal mayors, provincial heads of national government
agencies, military and police officials, non-government organizations and
provate sector representatives.
The
body has passed a resolution approving the reprogramming of the more than P44
million balance of the 20 percent development fund for 2013 to fund various
infrastructure projects to be implemented in the different parts of the
province.
Among
the projects to be funded by the reprogrammed amount include the concreting of
Dapdap-Bandera-Sinaman road, Dap Dap-Miasi road, junction national highway in
Kalambuayan, Polanco town to the headquarters of 101st Infantry
Brigade in Barangay del Pilar, Piñan town, and national highway-New Dapitan road
in Gutalac municipality.
As
regards peace and order matters, the provincial office of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) headed by Provincial Director James B. Mejia apprised the
participants of the present capabilities of his office and the deployment of
police personnel in the different municipalities.
The
police provincial office also recommended for the installation of coastal
radars in strategic areas of the province to detect bad elements using the
provincial waters.
On
the other hand, 101st Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Apolinario
Alobba briefed the PPOC members on the current development in the province,
particularly in the third district, in relation to the Zamboanga City crisis.
Although
Zamboanga del Norte is generally peaceful, Alobba reported that some MNLF
members are now actively operating in the third district of the province,
particularly in the municipalities of Salug, Labason, Sirawai, Siocon, and
Sibuco.