VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA - The Catanduanes Police Provincial Office (PPO) is conducting various activities this July, in connection with the celebration of the  28th Police Community Relations Month. 

A ceremonial opening was held last Monday, July 3, at Camp Francisco M. Camacho, Virac, Catanduanes, which focused on the theme: “Serbisyong Nagkakaisa para sa Ligtas at Maunlad na Pamayanan.”

The activity was spearheaded by Colonel Benjamin B. Balingbing Jr., PPO director. Philippine Information Agency Catanduanes Information Center Manager Edna A. Bagadiong was inviited as  guest speaker.

In her message, Bagadiong stressed the importance of police and community collaboration in crime prevention and reduction, by securing stronger support from the community for the attainment of its mission and providing  the people a safer, more peaceful place to live, work and do business.

According to her, “the maintenance of peace and order is not the sole concern of the police or the government, rather it is a shared responsibility of all the sectors of the society including the church.”

According to her, “the maintenance of peace and order is not the sole concern of the police or the government, rather it is a shared responsibility of all the sectors of the society including the church.”

Bagadiong also recognized the KASIMBAYANAN (Kapulisan Simbahan at Pamayanan) as one of the best programs of the PNP that harmonizes the efforts of the police, the community and the religious sector for a more holistic and values oriented transformation that involves the PNP and the people it serves and protects.

The activity also coincided with the traditional Monday flag raising ceremony in which individuals and organizations that supported the advocacies of the Philippine National Police were recognized and were given award. Said awardees were as follow: PSI Emelita Balmaceda (retired), Marcelo Sy, Amie Cantalejo, Rev. Father Nestor Buena, Community Baptist Bibble Mission Pastor Rolly Santos, Calolbon Bible Christian Ministry Pastor Vicente Candelaria, Viga Mayor Emeterio M. Tarin, Punong Barangay Juan T. Arador, and Punong Barangay Allan D. Vargas.

The following Municipal Police Stations were also recognized as top 3 MPS in implementing police community relations: Top 1 – Virac MPS headed by Major Robert Kevin T. Caparroso, chief of police; Top 2 – San Andres MPS headed by Major Emsol E. Icawat, chief of police; and Top 3 – Bato MPS headed by Capttain Francis T. Tabo I, officer in charge.

Personnel of Police Community Affairs and Development Branch also received recognition for their contribution in attaining Rank 1 in unit performance evaluation rating among the six police provincial offices (PPO) in Region 5 for 2023 for the months of February, March, June and July.

Meanwhile, aside from radio guesting in various radio stations in the province where the programs and activities of PNP are discussed to raise community awareness, the police stations of the 11 towns of Catanduanes are conducting various activities relative to the celebration.

Gigmoto MPS conducted supplemental feeding program on July 4; Panganiban MPS conducted feeding program and zumba activity on July 1; Bato PNP held a costal clean-up and lecture and dialogue with residents of Barangay San Roque, Bato on July 7; Virac MPS conducted lectures in various barangays of the town; San Andres MPS offered "libreng sakay," IEC distribution and coastal clean-up; Viga MPS intensified its visibility, awareness lectures and IEC distribution; Baras MPS launched the Adopt A Family Program, libreng sakay and conducted IEC distribution; while San Miguel, Bagamanoc Caramoran and Pandan MPS held lectures and intensified IEC distribution.

Presidential Proclamation No. 764 signed on January 24, 2005 declares the month of July every year as Police Community Relations Month, which aims to develop closer interaction between the police and the community in handling peace and order concerns. (PIA5/Catanduanes)