Barangay peacekeeping officers, who are more commonly known as “barangay tanods” have a key role to play in crime prevention, according to a regional official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) here.

During a press conference held here recently, DILG Assistant Regional Director Myrna Buduhan-Monayao said that in order to help barangay tanods perform this vital role in crime prevention, the Department equips them with the necessary skills and knowledge through several training activities and seminars.

Monayao said that the barangay tanods are being trained by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and DILG field office units in coordination with the municipal and barangay offices through a program known as Barangay Peace-Keeping Action Team (BPAT) Training about the importance and means in ensuring peace and order.

Some modules of the training include first aid and rescue procedures and arnis as self-defense.

In response to a request from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for the DILG to strengthen the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council or BADAC to help local communities eradicate drug abuse, Monayao said that the Department’s field offices will monitor BADACs, adding that each barangay is always encouraged to report about BADAC accomplishments periodically.

The press conference was sponsored by the National Police Commission and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and participated in by members of the Cordillera Regional Management Coordinating Council (CRMCC), other national government agencies, the academe and youth sector. -DILG-CAR

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