THE SAFE COMMUNITY AWARD

GAWAD KAPAYAPAAN

I. The challenge

            Crime and violence are serious problems in communities all over the world. Crime and the fear of crime threaten the stability and social climate of the country, hamper sustainable and economic development, and debase the quality of life and human rights.

            Developing and maintaining safe communities is central to the issue of good governance. One cannot exist without the other.

            Neither can efforts aimed at maintaining  safe communities prosper without empowering the citizenry and rousing them to commit the ideals of peace and solidarity.

            Under the Building Safe Communities and Developing a Culture of Peace Program, the Safe Community Award is established to mobilize local governments and the citizenry to take the lead role in the development of solidarity practices and in the creation of safe communities that are free from fear and insecurities.

II. TOTAL COMMUNITY APPROACH; A NEW STRATEGY TO ENSURE PEACE AND ORDER AND SAFETY

            The Building Safe Communities and Developing a Culture of Peace Program is new strategy in 2003 to address the peace and order problem in the country.

            It must be realized that the peace and order situation prevailing in the Philippines is the totality of peace and order problems of all the communities comprising our country.

Hence, to effectively address peace and order concerns, it must be appreciated and approached as a local concern that requires local solutions.

            Under our laws, local governments are empowered to effectively carry out the responsibility of maintaining peace and order in their territorial jurisdictions.

            Governors, Mayors and Punong Barangay must take a more active and preeminent role in the overall campaign against criminality. As Local Chief Executives, they have to take the lead in converging and synchronizing  efforts in the provinces, cities municipalities and barangays in the overall maintenance of safety, security and peace and order. As the embodiment of peace and order, they have to rally the rest of the community toward more active involvement and cooperation in the peace and order program.

III. THE SAFE COMMUNITY AWARD

(GAWAD KAPAYAPAAN)

            The Safe Community Award of Gawad Kapayapaan is the focal point of the Building safe Communities and Developing a Culture of Program. It is a pioneering strategy envisioned to promote the localization of efforts in addressing peace and order concerns to help bring about a safe and peaceful Philippines

            The Gawad Kapayapaan aims to unite and rally Local Chief Executives with their constituents  and the police to prioritize peace and order, and to recognize and reward outstanding performance and contributions among communities in the promotion of peace and order.

            Through this Award, it is hoped that role models in the transformation of communities into peaceful, orderly and safe localities will emerge for other communities to emulate.

IV. COVERAGE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE AWARD

            Coverage

                        The Award  covers 41,953 barangays, 1,495 municipalities 115 cities, 79 provinces and 17 regions.

            Objectives

                        To build safe communities and develop a culture of peace in the regions, pronvinces,  cities, municipalities and barangays.

V. CLASSIFITIONS OF AWARDEES

         There are fourteen(14) classifications of Awardees:

·        Regional, Safe Community Award

·        Provincial Safe Community Award

o       1^st to 3^rd Class Provinces

o       4^th to 6^th Class Provinces

·        Highly Urbanized and  Independent

     Component City, Safe Community Award

·        Component City, Safe Community Award

·        Municipal, Safe Community Award

o       1^st to 3^rd Class Municipalities

o        4^th to 6^th Class Municipalities

·        Barangay, Safe Community Award

o       Urban Barangays

o       Rural Barangays

·        Special Award Category for the NCK

·        Special Award Category to the small Provinces

·        Specail Award Category for ARMM

VI. AWARD CRITERIA

·        Local Government Initiative in achieving a safe community (20 pts)

·        Crime Statistics(30 pts)

·        Level of Affectation per Barangay (5 pts)

·        Favorable Public perception on peace and order condition-citizens do not leave in fear, citizens can roam their localities freely, without fear of being mugged, robbed, molested, shot or kidnapped-(20 pts)

·        External support system- community mobilization and peoples participation manifested through the organization and involvement of concerned NGO’s(15 pts)

·        Non-Occurrence(5 pts)

-         insurgency of armed conflict,

-         Terrorism (bombing, sabotage, arson, hijacking, etc..),

-         Sensational of heinous crimes (abortion, pornography, prostitution, drug abuse, wife beating , child abuse and sexual abuse),

-         Kidnapping,

-         Bank robberies,

-         Jailbreaks or escapes,  or

-         Fire

• Non- involvement of uniform in other law enforcement personnel in administrative or criminal cases (5 pts.)

VII. AWARDS

A. Regional Winner

• For the community
  • Plaque of recognition
  • Cash Award of Php 50,000.00
•    For the Local Chief Executive, PNP, Director of Chief of Police, DILG,   (PD,CD, CLGOO,MLGOO)Fire  Marshall and Jail Warden
  • Plaque of commendation

B. National Awardee

• For the community
  • Trophy
  • Cash Award of Php 200,000.00
•       For the Local Chief Executive, PNP, Director of Chief of Police, DILG,   (PD,CD, CLGOO,MLGOO)Fire  Marshall and Jail Warden
  • Medallion

2003-2004 MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND SCHEDULES

• Week4, January 2003

Formal Launching

• Week5 January 2003

Organization of the NAC, Validators, Board of Judges, and search committee

• Week5 January 2003

Dissemination of the implementing circular and manual

• Weeks 1-4 February 2003

Soft launching in selected provinces

• Weeks 1-4 February 2003

(1^st Assessment)

• Weeks 3-4, July to weeks 1-2, August 2003 (2^nd assessment ) evaluation of Barangays, Selection of Nominees, and nomination of next higher level, search committee by the municipal or city search committees
• Weeks 1-4, February to weeks 1-2, March 2003 (1^st assessment)
• Weeks 3-4, July to weeks 1-4, August 2003 (2^nd assessment ) evaluation of municipalities and component cities, further evaluation of Barangay nominees, selection and nomination  to the regional search committee by the provincial search committee
• Week 1 July 2003 (Regional recognition ceremonies)
• Weeks 2-3, December 2003 to weeks 1-3, January 2004

Final evaluation of national finalist and selection of awardees by the national awards committee thru the Board of  Judges.

• Week 4 January 2004- National awarding ceremonies

NATIONAL AWARDS COMMITTEE COMPOSITON

Composition:

Chairperson -Under Secretary, DILG

Co-Chairperson- Commissioner, NAPOLCOM

Vice- Chairperson- Representative, PACU

Members:

• Undersecretary, DND
• Representative, DDB
• Representative, DOJ
• Representative, DOT
• Chief PNP
• National President, ULAP
• National President, LPP
• National President, LCP
• National President, LMP
• National President, LnB
• Representative, FCP
• Representative, MBC
• Representative, FFCPI
• Representative, KIWANIS
• Representative, Lions Club
• Representative, Jaycees
• Representative, Rotary International
• Representative, PCCI
• Representative, KBP
• Representative, NPC
• Representative, Interfaith