DILG beefs up ARMM anti-crime capability with new patrol cars

COTABATO CITY -- Officials on Thursday initially dispersed 97 new police vehicles to local government units (LGUs) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to hasten the crime prevention activities of authorities.The autonomous region, which covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, has 116 towns.ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, who jointly led the symbolic release of the 97 new police vehicles, both assured to provide each of the 19 LGUs that did not receive any unit yet.The dispersal of the patrol cars for ARMM LGUs capped off the December 16 to 17 Bottoms Up Budgeting” Workshop in Cotabato City of local executives from across the autonomous region.The workshop delved on the importance of community-LGU cooperation in implementing state-funded projects and pro-poor government programs in the autonomous region.Speakers also lectured on how civil society organizations can help efficiently manage domestic socio-economic activities being pushed forward by LGUs and line agencies.The president of the league of mayors in Maguindanao, Mayor Freddie Mangudadatu of Mangudadatu town, said the workshop provided them insights on how their constituent-communities and the LGUs can bilaterally address poverty in underdeveloped towns.The workshop was a joint activity of the office of Hataman, the regional local government department and the national office of the Department of Interior and Local Government.In different speaking engagements with ARMM’s local and regional officials while in Cotabato City, Sarmiento talked lengthily about the achievements of the DILG in improving governance in the countryside.He said the DILG also achieved in recent years considerable successes in improving the anti-crime capabilities of the Philippine National Police.Ranking police officials from ARMM, led by the region’s police director, Chief Supt. Ronald Estilles, witnessed Hataman and Sarmiento’s release here on Thursday of the 97 patrol cars to mayors of recipient towns.