9,000 youths to benefit from police program

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director Reynaldo Velasco yesterday welcomed the additional P5 million donation of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for the Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery (OYSTER) project which he said would benefit more school dropouts in the metropolis.

Velasco said that for this year, the NCRPO is targeting at least 9,000 out-of-school youth to benefit from the Project OYSTER.

"We are thankful for the continuous support of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to the Project OYSTER as this will ensure funding for the various projects of the PNP for our out-of-school youths," Velasco said.

Last year, the First Gentleman donated P5 million to the project upon the instruction of President Arroyo.

According to Velasco, at least 6,000 out-of-school youths have benefited last year from the project where the NCRPO extended assistance and training to them.

Velasco said the Project Oyster started with at least 1,800 out-of-school boys and girls trained with skills they can readily use in earning a living.

The NCRPO chief said the program is aimed at minimizing the base criminality by making the school dropouts productive and pre-occupied.

He said this is also to carry out the PNP’s function as a full partner in community building and youth development

"Our out-of-school youths energies have been channeled to productive activities, drawing them away from crimes and helped them become good citizens of the country," the NCRPO chief said.

Velasco said all Metro Manila police precincts are required to implement the project.

Under the Project Oyster, Velasco said, out-of-school youths will be provided with emergency employment assistance as they render community service, to undergo education and training and sports and development.

According to him, OYSTER’s members are tapped for community service, such as traffic enforcement aides, eco aides/waste recyclers, health aides, day-care center aides, drug prevention aides and Sagip-Ilog aides. Each OYSTER providing community service is given P5,000. – Non Alquitran