Pulis sa Barangay launched in CV

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) relaunched yesterday the  Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay-Buhay Ingatan, Droga y Ayawan (RPSB-BIDA) in Cebu and in the rest of the region to better address criminality, drugs and other social problems, while also helping improve the police force s image.

The project aims to strengthen partnership among PNP, barangay officials, and communities in the region.

Interior Secretary Abalos said he want to bring the police much closer to the people, with those places of concern as top priority.

Abalos, who was supposed to lead the grand launch of the RPSB-BIDA program at the Hoopsdome in Lapu-Lapu City, told The Freeman that he regrets not being able to make it, as he was feeling under the weather after a fully-loaded week.

Even without Abalos though, the launch was a success, with no less than PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil leading the event.

The concept of the Pulis sa Barangay is basically bringing the police to the people, especially those places na talagang kailangan ng police,  Abalos said.

Aside from that, he said, it is an opportunity for the police force to show another side of them.

To show people that the police are different, not only in fighting criminality but likewise in other social work,  Abalos said.

He explained that under the program, an assigned police will be staying in a rented house in a barangay that is an area of concern.

With that, the assigned policeman gets to know the community better.

To that effect, kilala nya kung sinong lasinggero, yung mga siga, kng sinong mabait, sinong ganito. Tumutulong siya sa community until such time na ang kriminal na ang aalis,  Abalos added.

With this, the level of criminality and other vices in the target areas that already had this program before has gone down, because there is a higher concentration of terms of presence of policemen in the said barangays

Inuuna naming yung mga barangay na kailangang tulungan,  Abalos said.

Mga bata, tinuturuan nila Mga problema ng barangay alam nila, kung ito may drugs, tingnan natin. Kung ang pulis dyan siya matug, dyan siya tumira, that s the concept,  he further said.

In yesterday s activity, Alba said RPSB-BIDA is replicated in Central Visayas to reach the goal of a  drug-free  Philippines.

Ito ay isang partnership ng PNP at ng mga local government units para mabigyan ng kapangyarihan ang mga opisyal at residente na maging aktibo katuwang sa pagpapanatili sa kapayapaan at kaayusan, pagpapaunlad ng kultura ng pagbabantay at aktibong pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga mamamayan,  he said.

Ang programang ito ay naglalayong tugunan ang isyu ng illegal na droga sa pamamagitan ng pag-iwas ng ating kabataan at pagiging aktibo ng lahat sa komunidad ang initiatibong ito ay naglalayong lumikha ng ligtas at maayos na mga barangay,  he added.

DILG-7 Director Leocadio T. Trovela, on the other hand, said in an interview that the program needs the direct involvement and active cooperation of the local chief executives and officials in the region, with the PNP leading the campaign.

Trovela said that although crimes involving illegal drugs are still present, the PNP s role in addressing these problems and the campaign are seen to be effective.

Sa mga meetings natin ng RPOC (Regional Peace and Order Council), pinapakita nila kung papaano yung lakas ng kampanya at kung paano nagtatagumpay to certain extent against illegal drugs dito sa Region 7,  he said.

On the other hand, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard  Ahong  Chan also vowed for his full support of the program, emphasizing the Cebuanos  commitment in eliminating illegal drugs in the island.

The choice of launching the R-PSB BIDA in Lapu-Lapu City highlights the Cebuano s sincere commitment towards eradicating illegal drugs from the face of the province. Dili mi muhunong, hantod dili mahurot og (ka)-drug cleared atong tanang barangay,  said Chan, in his speech.

Chan, in aninterview, also said that through this program, the morale of the barangay tanods would increase as the police would now be visible in each barangay.

Para makatabang kay ang atoa  tawong mga tanod, kahibalo ta kung ma-involve ta og mga drugas lisod kaayo. Naa silay mga sakto nga mga himan, unya atong tanod batuta ra gyud tawon na,  the mayor said.

Chan said that police officers and the barangay tanods will work together, particularly in patrolling and in conducting operations in the barangay against illegal drugs.

Region VII now joins CALABARZON (Region IV A), Bicol Region (Region V), Western Visayas (Region 6), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Davao Region (Region 11), Caraga (Region 13), and the National Capitol Region in implementing the RPSB-BIDA program, which started in July 2022.

The program is part of the whole approach of DILG s BIDA campaign to strengthen and streamline the fight against illegal drugs. DILG also had BIDA fun run, BIDA dialogue, BIDA caravan, BIDA, zumba, among others, as part of yesterday s activity.(CEBU NEWS)