Iloilo launches community defense program for peace, resilience

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has launched the Provincial Community Defense Action for the Movement for Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive and Resilient Iloilo during a special meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council on Dec. 23 at Hotel del Rio in Iloilo City.

The initiative was institutionalized under Executive Order No. 111, Series of 2025, and is also referred to as 4K for MoRProGRes, which stands for Kapayapaan, Kaayusan, at Katatagan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Bagong Pilipinas (Peace, Order, and Strength Toward the Development of a New Philippines).

The program establishes a framework for an intensified, integrated and collaborative approach to community defense, aimed at safeguarding the welfare of citizens and local government units from internal and external threats.

Executive Order No. 111 adopts an “Urgent Development Mode” to accelerate the implementation of peace, order and resilience-related programs and projects across the province.

It also mandates the prioritization of funding for these initiatives in both annual and supplemental budgets.

The order provides for the creation of a Provincial Community Defense Cluster, which will be responsible for crafting policies, programs and actions that support community defense efforts.

Defensor said the executive order embodies the kind of governance the province aims to uphold.

“It is about community defense, action and service,” he said in a separate interview. “We are executing here one of the most important provisions of the Local Government Code—that we should take care of, protect and promote the general welfare of our citizens and local government units.”

During the same meeting, the provincial government distributed checks for disaster risk reduction and management initiatives, agricultural programs and school infrastructure projects, highlighting its broader focus on preparedness, food security and education.

In support of the governor’s directive, the Provincial Peace and Order Council passed a resolution adopting the executive order and affirming its commitment to promoting peacebuilding, security and sustainable development across Iloilo.