MASANTOL -- Barangay officials and personnel from the 26 barangays underwent an enhancement training seminar held at the municipal training center.
Dubbed as “Bests or Barangay Enhancement Seminar and Training Skills,” the week-long activity was spearheaded by the Office of the Mayor, Department of Interior and Local Government, Association of Barangay Captains and the local police.
Chief Inspector Julius Javier, the town police chief, said the seminar was held to refresh the knowledge of barangay captains, councilmen, Lupon Tagapamayapa and Violence against Women and Children officers on their roles as first responders of the community, especially those in coastal areas.
Included in the week-long seminar were courses on leadership, proper handling of cases in the barangay level, protection of abused women and children, as well as the monitoring of drug surrenderers who underwent reformation program.
“Itong mga barangay officials namin ang partners ng kapulisan para patuloy na mamaintain ang peace and order ng Masantol. Sila iyong mga nagseserve na first responders natin kapag may mga insidente na hindi maganda o doon sa mga kaso na minsan kaya ng solusyunan sa barangay level,” he explained.
(Barangay officials are our partners for us to maintain peace and order in Masantol. They serve as first responders if there are untoward incidents or in cases where it’s the barangay who can solve it)
Javier said that empowerment of barangay officials is essential as they serve as augmentation to the inadequate number of police officers in the town who serve more than 50,000 residents.
He disclosed that the each policeman in Masantol must serve 1,745 individuals and the coastal landscape of the town adds up to the challenge of maintaining the peace and order here.
“Talagang may kakulangan ng pulis dito sa Masantol kaya gumagawa talaga kami ng paraan para makapagconduct ng seminar every year para tuluy-tuloy ang education para sa mga barangay officials,” he said.
(We have limitations in our police force in Masantol that is why we undertake ways to conduct a seminar every year for continuing education of barangay officials)
Mayor Danilo Guintu, for his part, said that the local government continues to urge its barangay counterparts to participate in such programs which may help them in fulfilling their respective duties.
Aside from crime prevention, Guintu said that the seminar will also educate participants on the proper actions during times of disaster, particularly flooding which is a perennial problem of this town.
