PROFESSIONALIZING TANOD. The Antique Provincial Board approves on second reading a proposed ordinance seeking to professionalize and institutionalize barangay tanod during their regular session on Monday (May 20, 2024). Board Member Pio Jessielito Sumande Sr. said in an interview Tuesday (May 21) that to professionalize the 5,900 barangay tanod in Antique will have to undergo capacity-building training. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique provincial board is now deliberating on the ordinance seeking to professionalize and institutionalize 5,900 barangay tanod or village safety officers in the province.
Board Member Pio Jessielito Sumande Sr. said in an interview Tuesday that the proposed ordinance pushing for capability training of barangay tanod members hurdled the second reading during their regular session on Monday.
“The barangay tanod in Antique, being the force multipliers in terms of peace and order and public safety, should be provided with training to equip them in responding in time of calamity and emergency,” he said.
He said that the tanod assist the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Army, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), so they have to be equipped with knowledge and skills.
He said that under the supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), tanod will undergo training on basic first aid, water safety, search and rescue, and responding during a collapsed structure.
“Self-defense, like arnis, should also be taught among the tanod so they would know how to defend themselves whenever attacked as they carry out their responsibilities,” Sumande said.
To institutionalize the tanod, Sumande said the chairperson of the barangay committee on peace and order will recommend them to their barangay captains based on their having good morale and being physically and mentally fit to perform their duties.
“The tanod are being given their honorarium by their barangays, but the provincial government could provide them insurance and livelihood to economically assist them also,” he said.
He said that currently, the tanod have honorarium ranging from PHP3,000 to PHP5,000 monthly from their barangays, so the province, using its five percent calamity fund under the PDRRMO, could provide them training, insurance, and other forms of assistance. (PNA)
