DILG launches‘Disiplina Muna’ advocacy

NAGA CITY --- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the city government here have joined the simultaneous launching of the “Disiplina Muna” National Advocacy Campaign at the Public Safety Office (PSO) Covered Court at the City Hall compound recently.

The “Disiplina Muna” advocacy campaign aims to promote the culture of discipline among Filipinos as a means of fostering people’s participation, which is one of the tenets of good governance.

The campaign is anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, which aims to lay down the foundation for inclusive growth and a high-trust society by ensuring people-centered governance towards Ambisyon Natin 2040, that envision of a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat.

The Disiplina Muna campaign is also in line with the whole-of-nation approach espoused by the Duterte administration.

DILG-Naga acting city director Lino Boncodin (left) leads the launching of “Disiplina Muna” in Naga City held at the PSO Training Court, City Hall Compound, July 13, 2020. (JRM-PIAV/Camarines Sur)

In his message, Boncodin said that with the present system under the ‘new normal,’ he has seen how Naga City faced the Covid-19 pandemic with the participation of all sectors down to the barangay level, which for him is taking the ‘whole-of-nation-approach.’

“I hope that the launching of the program is not only for today. Let it be the start to really do this well because we all believe that we need the participation of everyone to promote the culture of discipline in taking the whole-of-nation-approach together,” Boncodin said.

The campaign aimed to increase the consciousness among Filipinos of their critical role and responsibility in sustainable development and maintenance of peace and order as a shared responsibility.

For his part, Naga City OIC-police director, Col. Marlon Catan, said that indeed there is much to be done, but the Philippine National Police (PNP) will not stop to put everything in place. "We appeal for cooperation, hoping for Disiplina Muna," Catan said.

Mayor Nelson Legacion, in his message, supported the advocacy campaign, citing the current pandemic situation as an example where the number of Covid-19 positive cases increases due to lack of discipline of some people.

“The challenge now is how to bring discipline to the people, down to the barangay level. How we are going to impose laws, ordinances and protocols, and I think, large part will have to depend on what we will have to do next after this launching program,” Legacion said.

The messaging and content of the Disiplina Muna advocacy campaign will target three audience types, namely: the youth as the next leaders of future generation; the yuppies or young professionals as contemporary and rising leaders in the present time; and the general public. (JRM-PIAV/Camarines Sur)