DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 28 (PIA) --The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) here has cited the importance of community engagement in achieving peace and order through community dialogues, educational programs, joint patrols, and engaging activities.
NAPOLCOM Provincial Head Atty. Jose Alan Comon, during the recent Kapihan sa PIA, said that barangays play a key role in crime prevention as force multipliers in observance of the 28th Police Community Relations (PCR) Month this July.
However, Comon reaffirmed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is mandated to promote peace and order, public safety in times of calamities to assist the community, as well as to help local government units to strengthen the delivery of basic services to the citizenry.
In the same forum, the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) discussed their various programs and activities aimed at fostering community engagement.
These include tree planting, bloodletting activity, graduation ceremony of NOPPO Day Care Center, “Ilaw Mo, Sagot Ko” and “Kapwa Mo, Sagot Ko” programs, Project Palangga, and coastal clean-up.
NOPPO Deputy Chief of Police Community Affairs Development Unit (PCADU) PLt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar said the PCR Month "develops and creates a collaborative and harmonious relationship with the police and the community; it is used to build relationships.”
Polinar said that it is also the duty of the public to report and provide information about crimes and suspicious activities in the barangay to the police.
Chief of Police of Dumaguete City Police Station PLt.Col. Ronoel Fungo echoed this sentiment on the importance of community engagement in understanding and addressing the problems faced by the community.
“Community engagement is very essential. If we cannot engage the community, we do not know the true problem of our community.” said Fungo.
With a sharp focus and priority on combating drug-related issues, the police station held drug symposiums and other educational peace initiatives to raise awareness on the adverse effects of drugs in the 30 barangays and elementary schools in the city.
“Since our number one problem in Dumaguete is drugs, we focus on illegal drugs. We should be tackling our main problem in the city. Aside from supply reduction efforts, we also need to decrease the demand reduction with education and learning about the ill-effects of illegal drugs," said Fungo.
The PCR Month banners this year’s theme “Serbisyong Nagkakaisa para sa Ligtas at Maunlad na Pamayanan," highlighting the importance of community engagement in crime prevention efforts and public safety programs. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from Antoine Duquenne, SU Intern)
