The Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Police Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino led yesterday the turn-over and inauguration of the P14 million police base in Tagbilaran
Funded by the General Appropriations Act of 2016, the two storey modern structure built on a 1,000 square meter lot owned and donated by the City of Tagbilaran through Mayor John Geesnell Yap and the City Sanggunian, stands behind the new and retrofitted Tagbilaran City Hall.
This would replace the old and rickety police station the city police occupies at the abandoned city hall near the Cathedral, although the conference hall still needs to be fitted with air-conditioning units, Mayor Yap said.
Standing in the iconic colors of blue and white characteristic of the new police stations all over the country, the new police base in Tagbilaran is nearly 3 times as huge as the standard P4 million police stations the PNP funded for the towns.
Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7) Chief Superintendent Espino and Regional Logistics and Research Division Chief PSSupt Marcelo Dayag passed on the symbolic key or responsibility to City Police Chief PSuperintendent Patricio Degay signifying the transfer of responsibilities to the local police force in maintaining the upkeep of the facility.
The building, which was set for turn-over months ago finally had its blessings and inauguration with Rev. Fr Sinforiano Monton officiating and attended by City and PNP and Provincial Government Officials.
At the ceremonies, PCSupt Espino acknowledged the City Government under Mayor Yap for its relentless support to the PNP, one he acknowledges as a true investment of a growing competitive city like Tagbilaran.
The City Government under Yap has donated mobility assets to the City Police exemplified by the two four wheeled patrol cars and facilitated for the donation of another one from a private company, so the police mobility and presence in the streets can be ascertained.
The City Government also donated motor vehicles now used by the Motorcycle Anti Street Crime Operatives (MASCO), while investing in putting up its own Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit.
In his message, the city mayor also revealed that in the city government’s continued commitment of support, 10 more M4 assault rifles are added to the city operatives’ assault arsenal even as he assured continued support for ammunition which the city peace keeping and anti crime force in crime suppression.
To make the work of the city police easier, the city adopted the use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in strategic locations to exponentially expand the city’s anti crime watch capability.
And as a force multiplier, the city mayor promised to continue with the Active Local Emergency Response Team (ALERT) as additional eyes and ears of the police especially in outlaying districts.
Finally, true to its full support to the crime busters, the city mayor revealed that in the offing is the additional police allowance which the members of the city sanggunian is now preparing for implementation. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)