• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod is supporting the establishment of a police outpost for Barangay Sum-ag in Bacolod City, to ensure police visibility, public safety, and accessible law enforcement services.
The SP, in approving the resolution authored by Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson recently, stressed the importance of accessible police services in maintaining peace and order, and in promoting the safety and general welfare of the residents of Bacolod.
“The proposed police outpost shall complement, and not replace, the functions of the appropriate police station and the Bacolod City Police Office, and shall be subject to proper assessment, applicable laws, PNP policies, operational requirements, and availability of resources,” the resolution states.
Sayson said Sum-ag is a highly-populated and strategically-situated barangay, with residential and commercial establishments, schools, religious institutions, public facilities, and other areas regularly frequented by residents and visitors.
“The reported transfer of Police Station 9 to Barangay Cabug may increase the distance between the residents of Sum-ag and the nearest police station, potentially affecting the accessibility and response time of police services,” he explained, adding the establishment of a police outpost in Sum-ag “would enhance police visibility, facilitate patrol and emergency response, provide a more accessible venue for reporting incidents, and strengthen coordination between the BCPO, barangay officials, and the community.”
Sayson urged Mayor Greg Gasataya and the BCPO to facilitate the proper assessment of the proposed outpost, and for the city police, in coordination with the Sangguniang Barangay (SB) of Sum-ag and other concerned offices, to evaluate the proposed location, personnel and operational requirements, accessibility, security considerations, and other factors necessary to determine its feasibility.
The Sum-ag SB, in a resolution, said that barangay officials are willing to coordinate and extend assistance, subject to existing laws and available resources, in the identification of a suitable location and other requirements necessary for the establishment and operation of the proposed outpost. | CGC
