CEBU, Philippines — The local government of Oslob and the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) yesterday inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the donation of a 400-square-meter lot intended for the construction of the town’s police station.
Mayor Jose Tumulak represented the municipality of Oslob while CPPO Director Edgar Alan Okubo signed on behalf of the PNP.
Okubo expressed his appreciation on the move of the local government of Oslob since having their own police station building will not only boost the image of his policemen but also gives confidence to the public to trust the police force.
Oslob Police is among the remaining 20 percent of the police stations in Cebu Province that are renting a building until now for their daily operations.
Okubo said that one of his priorities is to have all the police stations under the CPPO to fully own their building.
“With the help of our Provincial Advisory Council, PNP and LGU, we pray and hope na mabigyan ng 100 percent ang Cebu province na mga stations na fully owned iyong building ng mga kapulisan natin. Matagal na gusto nating ma-improve ang image at structures ng PNP. We will be having now our own police stations for our PNP, hindi na ito maging mga tenants ng municipal buildings,” said Okubo.
Okubo, who estimated the building to cost about P4 million, will still need to send a request to their national headquarters for the construction to be included in the next budget.
Oslob Police Chief Ceralde Clemente, for his part, also expressed his happiness on the new progress for their dreamed PNP-owned station in Oslob.
Clemente said that it is really an advantage that Oslob policemen will have its own police station building rather than renting, since the proposed building can accommodate a lot of people specifically for the augmented mobile force personnel.
“Tulad dito walang CR (comfort room), lalabas ka pa doon sa munisipyo tapos pag alas singko ay sarado na. Iyong jail natin ay nasa likod,” said Clemente.
Meanwhile, Tumulak is hopeful that the construction of the new police station for Oslob Police will begin soon, so that it can accommodate the needs not only of the police personnel but also the public. — GAN (FREEMAN)