Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito presided over the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting on June 10, 2025, at the Lower Magat Eco-Tourism (LMET) Park in Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya.
The council convened key officials from law enforcement agencies, national government representatives , and other stakeholders to discuss pressing security concerns in Region 2 giving emphasis in addressing criminality, insurgency, and emerging threats such as cybercrime and environmental violations.
During the meeting, updates on the peace and order situation in each province were presented, with focus on recent accomplishments, ongoing operations, and areas of concern. The council also tackled issues affecting indigenous communities, drug-related cases, and the need for more intensive community-based programs. Gov. Gambito urged council members to adopt innovative approaches and remain vigilant in upholding public safety, especially in vulnerable and remote areas.
A key part of the meeting was the motion to expand the membership of the RPOC to include the Commander of the 4th Marine Brigade and the Regional Director of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation Region 02, for a broader inter-agency collaboration. Gov. Gambito also acknowledged the collective interventions that have contributed to the decrease in criminality in Region 2, noting that strengthened coordination and grassroots involvement remain vital to maintaining peace and order.
He also raised concerns over the perennial issue of truck overloading, which continues to damage provincial and national roads creating safety risks.
“Public funds are utilized for the construction and maintenance of our roads. By effectively enforcing the anti-overloading law, we can redirect funds initially allocated for road repairs towards other projects that the community needs,” he stressed.
The governor further pushed for co-management arrangements between national agencies and LGUs in infrastructure oversight, emphasizing that the cost of neglect is ultimately borne by taxpayers, most of whom are farmers. “Do we have justice here?” he asked pointedly, stressing the imbalance in accountability and burden-sharing.
He explained that this is one of the main reasons he wants the LGU to have a co-management role in road maintenance and monitoring, ” to ensure that trucks and vehicles comply with weight limits and that public infrastructure is preserved,” Gov. Gambito explained . He maintains that stricter enforcement will protect both roads and taxpayers’ money, allowing the government to allocate savings to other important services and projects for the community, reiterating his commitment to promoting a safe and peaceful region through coordination and the strengthening of inter-agency partnerships. # glo
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