Joint PDC, PPOC meeting held in Dipolog

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 101^st 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, 101^st 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.

Alobba said MNLF flags were earlier raised in Salug and Labason but were later lowered after local leaders and the military held a dialogue with the MNLF leaders in the area. (PIA9)