• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The proposal to upgrade the classification of the Bacolod City Police Office, from Type B to A, and establish five more police stations, received support from the Sangguniang Panlungsod May 28.
Councilor Psyche Marie Sy, chairperson of the SP Committee on Fire, Social Defense, and Natural Disasters, authored the resolution of support to the proposal of Col. Joeresty Coronica, city police director, requesting the National Police Commission to reclassify the BCPO to ensure sufficient command structure, staffing, and resources as per the PNP standards.
The BCPO, classified as a Type B city police office, has already reached the maximum limit of 10 police stations. “Upgrading it to Type А would allow the office to add police stations, which is necessary and justified with the current realities,” Sy said in the resolution approved by the SP during the regular session Wednesday.
These proposed new police stations would be established in barangays Banago, Estefania, Vista Alegre, Singcang-Airport, and Sumag, which have experienced significant urban development over the past several years.
“The addition of these police stations will aid in the effective exercise of command and control, as well as ensure closer supervision by superior officers over their subordinates, thereby improving operational efficiency and crime prevention efforts in the concerned areas,” the resolution stressed.
It noted that since Bacolod is the lone highly-urbanized city in the Negros Island Region, the number of floating population – or daytime and unregistered residents – continues to rise and is estimated to reach over a million, making the police-to-population ratio higher and could barely be served by BCPO’s current strength of 1,050 uniformed personnel.
Sy stressed that to align with the city’s thrust and economic trend, there is need to establish additional police stations “to prepare and better address the growing concerns of public safety and law enforcement in key growth areas.”
This will also enable the BCPO to plan ahead, especially with regard to infrastructure and other logistical requirements to cope up with the dynamic and future demands of policing, she added.
The proposal already has the support of the community, with some individuals, including the LGU, willing to provide lots where the new police stations would be constructed, Sy said. | CGC
