BY ALEX ALAGON
- DCPO cracks down on smuggling networks in May operations
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) seized an estimated ₱6.26 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a month-long intensified anti-smuggling campaign last month.
DCPO chief Col Peter Bauzon Madria said the series of operations was part of their crackdown on economic sabotage and the flow of contraband goods into the city’s borders.
According to DCPO data, law enforcement units intercepted several shipments of illicit cigarettes valued at exactly ₱6,260,080.
He said the operations were driven by sustained, intelligence-led initiatives and collaboration with partner law enforcement units, regulatory agencies, and barangay officials.
Madria emphasized that dismantling smuggling networks requires more than standard checkpoints. Rather, it demands rapid information exchange and inter-agency coordination to cut off supply chains before the smuggled goods reach the local market.
“Combating smuggling requires a united front where law enforcement agencies and the community work together toward a common goal,” Madria said, adding that these operations protect lawful commerce, safeguard public welfare, and prevent the entry of illegal goods that deprive the government of vital tax revenues.
He also credited the vigilance of Davaoeños who gave timely tips and reports of suspicious activities for the campaign’s success.
TOP OFFICIALS of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) convened an emergency security summit with Toril’s barangay captains on Wednesday to roll out a synchronized, community-led public safety campaign.
The strategic dialogue, held at the session hall of Barangay Marapangi, Toril, was led by DCPO chief Col Peter Bauzon Madria and Maj Sheryl Y. Bautista, Police Station 8 (Toril) commander.
During the session, law enforcers laid out a comprehensive operational roadmap for the district, securing commitments from local chief executives to prioritize aggressive anti-drug operations by intensifying intelligence-sharing networks.
The police also committed to maximizing foot and mobile patrols in identified crime-prone areas and to stricter enforcement of the city’s curfew ordinance.
Finally, participants agreed to install functional CCTVs across key barangay choke points and commercial zones to enhance monitoring and deter criminals.
Barangay officials also aired grievances, reported blind spots in current patrol routes, and co-authored crime prevention strategies.
Madria emphasized that real-time, transparent communication between Station 8 and community chiefs is the backbone of crime prevention.
OVER 5,000 solo parents in Davao City are set to receive a monthly cash subsidy of P1,000 under the city’s local solo parents ordinance, which has been in effect since 2024.
Karla Quintela, spokesperson of the City Social Welfare and Development Solo Parents Division, said 5,267 qualified solo parents are currently enrolled in the program.
“The payout is ongoing for the first quarter, which only began rolling out in the last week of May, ” Quintela said during the Ispeak forum on Thursday.
Payouts are supposedly released every quarter, but technicalities with the entries have caused delays.
According to the program, each solo parent receives P3,000, accumulated over three months, every quarter.
Quintela said 852 solo parents remain on a waitlist as the budget is limited. The official said waitlisted beneficiaries can avail of the slot if a solo parent is disqualified. The list is being assessed every three months.
Grounds for termination of benefits include when the income of the solo parent falls above the poverty threshold stated under Sec. 4 of the ordinance, when he/ she remarries, and when the child he/she is supporting turns 18 years old.
“Every quarter, the social worker in the district will submit an assessment if a solo parent still qualifies,” she said.
A proposal to add 1,000 more slots to the program is still pending approval.
Despite the modest amount, Quintela said beneficiaries say the subsidy has provided help to their households, especially to the basic needs of their children.
The program is eyeing a survey to better measure the subsidy’s impact on beneficiaries’ lives.
“According to them, while it is not a large sum, it can augment the school projects of the children at school and for transportation,” she said.
On the employment front, no local initiative has been launched yet for solo parents, though the city government said it is planning to develop one.
DAVAO Light and Power Company Inc. will soon extend its electricity services in Davao de Oro within the year to support the province’s economic development following its recent takeover of power distribution in Davao del Norte.
During the Habi at Kape forum on Jun 3, DLPC president Engr. Enriczar Tia hopes to sit down with the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) for a smoother transition for Davao de Oro. However, he mentioned that there is no collaboration yet with the electric cooperative and that the only way to go will be through the courts.
Tia shared that they had also talked with the local governments in Davao de Oro and are willing to partner with them.
“When we are still early in the takeover, we’ve seen a lot of things that need to be improved. So, these things are also hindering these cities and municipalities from growing,” he said.
“In Davao de Oro, a lot of the leaders are excited to work with us since we are common in our purpose to serve the public,” he added.
Under Republic Act No. 12144, also known as the Davao Light Expansion Act, DLPC is authorized to extend franchise areas in the province of Davao de Oro. This includes Davao del Norte and the Island Garden City of Samal.
The company continues to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring the delivery of reliable and quality services to existing customers within its current franchise area, as well as recognizing the constitutionality of the said Republic Act.
