“Di kaya ng gobyerno, o ng PNP, mag-isa ang pagsawata sa ilegal na droga, krimen, at korapsyon. Kailangan namin kayo.”

This is the message of Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Romarie P. Soriano to explain the day’s activity, “Training for the Strengthening of the MASA-MASID Team,” held at the Balon Bayambang Events Center.

MASA MASID is Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) citizen-volunteer program that stands for Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Droga.

Scheduled on October 10-11, 13-14, 17 and 19-20 for seven clusters composed of 11 barangays per schedule, the one-day training was begun by a team of trained coaches which included DILG’s Soriano, Municipal Health Officer Dr. Paz F. Vallo, Bayambang Chief of Police PSupt. Cirilo B. Acosta Jr., and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Lerma Padagas.

In his welcome remarks, Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao could not help but underscore the importance of the training, as he spoke to an audience composed of representatives from a wide variety of people’s organizations from the barangay level, such as religious groups. “Importante ang inyong role. Isa lang ang gagawin niyo. Magmasid kayo.”

“Kayo ang nakakaalam kung sino ang mga taga-barangay ninyo. Pag may bisita, dapat ipaalam sa barangay, para madali nating mate-trace ang mga identity in case may mangyaring krimen sa lugar ninyo na kinasasangkutan ng inyong bisita.”

“Ang peace and order ay responsibilidad nating lahat. Importante and kooperayon ng pulis at komunidad,” he added.

Meanwhile, Soriano clarified that the MASA MASID Program introduced in September 2016 has been revised to include violent extremism among the things to watch out for, to avoid a repeat of the ISIS-style siege of Marawi City anywhere in the country.

Rural Health Unit I Head Dr. Paz F. Vallo discussed the different effects of substance abuse and the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program (CBRP), while PSInsp. Mark Ryan Taminaya took over Chief of Police PSupt. Cirilo B. Acosta Jr.’s discussion of DDB Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017. Deputy Chief of Police Dennis Balitoc gave different tips in preventing crime around Bayambang, while PO2 Vina de Leon led the discussion of Information Gathering and Reporting System wherein she cited the different modes of reporting accepted in MASA MASID.

DILG staff Ruth A. Cabote took charge of the lecture on the roadmap of the MASA MASID, while Victory Church Bayambang Senior Pastor Anthony MInguez led the last discussion entitled “Encouraging Volunteerism: A Way to Heighten Community Participation.”

Aside from the lecture, the trainees also participated in a Workshop on Action Planning and recited a Pledge of Commitment which they themselves crafted.

One of the participants thanked DILG and the Quiambao-Sabangan administration for giving senior citizens a chance to do something worthwhile for the community.