ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has moved to hardwire peace, order, and disaster resilience into Iloilo’s governance system. The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) formally adopted his new flagship framework aimed at shielding communities and local governments from mounting security and climate-related threats.
During a special PPOC meeting on December 23, Defensor presented Executive Order No. 111, Series of 2025, which establishes the Provincial Community Defense Action for MoRProGRes Iloilo — also called 4K for MoRProGRes (Kapayapaan, Kaayusan, at Katatagan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Bagong Pilipinas).
The program is aligned with the national development direction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., while directly addressing threats confronting the province and its local government units.
“Why we are doing this? We’re protecting the general welfare of our constituents and our LGUs (local government units),” Defensor said during the launch of the executive order.
The governor cited climate change, criminality, insurgency, illegal drugs, and both natural and man-made disasters — such as typhoons, floods, and earthquakes — as among the key risks the province must proactively confront.
Under EO 111, the 4K for MoRProGRes framework introduces an intensified, integrated, and collaborative community action system designed to defend public welfare and strengthen local resilience against internal and external threats.
A major feature of the program is the adoption of an Urgent Development Mode, which mandates an upgraded implementation of peace, order, and resilience initiatives, along with the prioritization of funding for these programs in the province’s annual and supplemental budgets.
The executive order also creates a Provincial Community Defense Cluster, tasked with formulating policies, programs, and coordinated actions on community defense and security./PN
