PNP's 'Pulis ko, Teacher Ko, PROTECT Ako' project to go nationwide

MANILA, Philippines - A group of outstanding policemen would implement the “Pulis Ko, Teacher Ko..PROTECT Ako” project nationwide to imbue a sense of nationalism, responsibility and love for community and country to young students.

Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, spokesman of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) said the project would initially be implemented for students in Grades 5 and 6 and subsequently to first year high school students.

“This is the age where the students are already aware of and conscious of their role in community and nation building and where values formation is critical,” said Carlos.

Carlos was elected as national president of the Policemen Responsible For Organizing, Training, Empowering CommuniTies (PROTECT) during the 2nd general assembly of the organization on in Camp Crame last March 4.

PROTECT is the organization formed by awardees of the Metrobank Foundation’s Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS).

Carlos said the project would be implemented under a tie-up with the DPCR (Directorate for Police Community Relations) and PMO (Program Management Office) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

He added that the project would be implemented under the Citizen Empowerment component of the Model Police Station Project of the PNP Integrated Transformation Program (PNP-ITP).

The “Pulis Ko, Teacher Ko” project was conceptualized by former NCRPO chief and now Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo N Bataoil. It was first implemented in the Region 1 and was subsequently replicated nationwide.

The lesson plan and the training of the PROTECT instructors were designed by members of the Nation’s Outstanding Teachers and EDucators (NOTED), the organization formed by awardees of Metrobank Foundation’s Search for Outstanding Teachers (TOPS), headed by national president Dr. Arthur Casanova.

Carlos replaced Senior Superintendent Alfred Corpus, the provincial director of Tarlac, PROTECT’s first national president elected in 2008.