This article aims to answer the following questions:
- What is the Barangay Peace and Order Committee or BPOC?
- What is the composition of the BPOC?
- What are the roles and functions of the BPOC?
- How often does it meet?
- How is it created?
- References
What is the Barangay Peace and Order Committee? What are the legal basis for its creation?
The Barangay Peace and Order Committee is a sub-national Peace and Order Council. It is the counterpart of the National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) at the barangay level. In 1987, years before the Local Government Code was passed, then President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order No. 09 s. 1987 ordering the reorganization of the Peace and Order Council at the national, regional, provincial, and city and municipal levels. Likewise, Section 116 of the Local Government Code also provided only for the reorganization of the POCs at those levels.
In 1996, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 366 s. 1996 which amended E.O. 309 to include the organization of the Barangay Peace and Order Committee as the implementing arm of the city/municipal peace and order council at the barangay level. In 2002, the NPOC issued Memorandum Circular No. 2002-05 directing the DILG to monitor the functionality of BPOCs.
In 2008, DILG issued Memorandum Circular 2008-101 providing new guidelines for the reorganization of BPOCs, and elaborated further on the monitoring of their functionality.
In 2015, to strengthen further the BPOCs pursuant to the Peace and Development Agenda, the DILG issued Memorandum Circular No. 2015-130.
And, finally, as of this writing, the latest guideline issued on BPOCs is DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-047 dated February 27, 2020 entitled “An update on the Functionality Indicators, Rules and Responsibilities, and Monitoring Guidelines of Barangay Peace and Order Committee, thereby ammending DILG MC No. 2008-101.”
Composition
Chairperson: The Punong Barangay
Members:
- Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson
- A member of the Lupong Tagapamayapa designated by the Punong Barangay
- A public school teacher to be designated by the School Principal or School Head Teacher
- A PNP Officer to be designated by the Chief of Police
- A representative from the Interfaith Group
- A senior citizen
- A barangay tanod preferably Chief Tanod or Ex-O
- At least three (3) members, duly endorsed by an organized neighborhood organization, from existing barangay-based anti-crime groups, neighborhood watch groups or NGOs well-known in the community
Roles and Function
The BPOC shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
- Formulate a Barangay Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan (BPOPS) and furnish copies to the following:
- Barangay Development Council (BDC) for reference and consideration in the formulation of the Barangay Development Plan (BDP)
- City or Municipal Peace and Order Council for reference and consideration in the formulation of C/M POPS Plan
- Recommend measures to improve or enhance peace and order and public safety in the community;
- Monitor and coordinate the implementation of peace and order programs and projects at the barangay level;
- Serve as an information-gathering mechanism;
- Monitor and report, to appropriate authorities, suspicious illegal activities and personalities involved, including insurgent activities within their jurisdictions;
- Maintain continuing dialogue, close coordination and rapport with the higher-level POC and law enforcement units;
- Coordinate the operation of all community-based anti-crime groups within the barangay;
- Conduct periodic assessment of the prevailing peace and order situation in the barangay, and submit a report, with appropriate recommendations, to the higher-level POC;
- Submit annual BPOC Functionality Report as prescribed in this MC; and
- Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the higher-level POC.
Frequency of Meeting
The BPOC, unlike its city and municipal counterparts, shall meet at least once every month. If it needs to meet more than that, it may hold special meetings.
References:
- DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-047 dated February 27, 2020 – An update on the functionality indicators, Rules and Responsibilities, and Monitoring Guidelines of Barangay Peace and Order Committee, thereby ammending DILG MC No. 2008-101
- DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2015-130 dated November 3, 2015 – Guidelines on the Functions of the Peace and Order Councils, Barangay Peace and Order Committees and the Peace and Order Council Secretariats
- DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2008-101 dated January 15, 2008 – Reorganization and Guidelines in Monitoring the Functionality of Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC)
- Executive Order No. 366 s. 1996 – FURTHER AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 309, S. OF 1987, ENTITLED “REORGANIZING THE PEACE AND ORDER COUNCIL,” AS AMENDED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 317, S. OF 1988, EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 320, S. OF 1988 AND EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 20, S. OF 1992 AND ORGANIZING THE BARANGAY PEACE AND ORDER COMMITTEES AS THE IMPLEMENTING ARM OF THE CITY/MUNICIPAL PEACE AND ORDER COUNCIL AT THE BARANGAY LEVEL
- Executive Order No. 309 s. 1987 – Reorganizing the Peace and Order Council
