The Local Government Unit of Katipunan – under the leadership of Mayor Patchito T. Eguia, conducted a 1-day joint meeting  of the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC), Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MDAC) and the  Municipal Development Council (MDC). The meeting was held at the FTC-Hall of the JRMSU-Katipunan Campus, which was attended by the members of the said councils and officials from various government agencies with the presence of Sgt. Yasir A. Amil, Representative of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), PCINSP. Vedasto J. Dasmariñas, POPB, Zamboanga del Norte, Provincial Police Office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Agent Maria Felina B. Abendan, Provincial Officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

 

The said meeting, to discuss some issues and problems such as; 1) drug problem in identified  barangays where some of them have not yet passed their respective BADAC plans; 2) the increasing number of crimes in theft and the spread of illegal gambling such as cockfighting in several barangays; 3) the gradual movements of extremists in four barangays (Malasay, Fimagas, Seroan and Carupay); 4) the improper arrangement of traffic rules especially in schools such as in JRMSU-Katipunan Campus and KNHS where these have been exposed to different kinds of accidents to students and 5) the slow implementation of local and national funded projects in the municipal government.

To address the issues,  the chairman of the council, Hon. Patchito T. Eguia,  stressed out  to strengthen and expand the responsibilities of all MDAC members especially the Barangay Captains  and speed up their efforts as members of the Barangay Ati-Drug Abuse Councils or BADACs in implementing strategic drug prevention and drug control policies in the community. He also reminded the  Barangay Tanods on their duties to be vigilant in order to preserve the peace and order situation in the community and to abide the law of PD No. 449  (sec.5) (d) to reduce illegal gambling in their respective areas.. Moreover, he urged the involvement of the CSOs to help accelerate the implementation of various  projects of our municipality.