Intel funds eyed for village heads in Zamboanga

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 11): Intel funds eyed for village heads in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The City Council approved a resolution asking the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to study the possibility of appropriating intelligence fund for village chiefs in this city.

Councilor Cesar Jimenez Sr., chair of the City Council’s committee on ordinances and resolutions, on Wednesday said the proposed funds would be used for intelligence gathering and maintenance of peace and order.

“Perhaps, for a Punong Barangay (village chief) to be more effective in his campaign against the prevention of criminality in his or her area is to provide him with necessary funding by way of intelligence funds,” Jimenez told the Philippine News Agency.

He said the campaign against criminality starts from the barangay level and “this (intelligence) fund will be of big help.”

Aimee Cabato, village chair of Baliwasan, said it is a welcome development for them once the proposal is approved by the DBM.

Cabato said, once approved, she would use the fund to hire intelligence personnel in each of the puroks of her village “so that we will know in case there will be movements in the barangay.”

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1031588