Local business groups were upbeat following their meeting with the top cop of Bacolod City, who assured them that the police will strengthen measures to prevent crimes.
The meeting today, February 26, came after a series of shooting incidents in the city since the start of the year, which has alarmed the business sector.
Present during the meeting with Col. Manuel Placido, Bacolod City police director, and Councilor Al Espino, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on police affairs today, February 26, were Frank Carbon and Roberto Montelibano, chief executive officer and president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, respectively, Fred Barcelona of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Roger Yap of the Negros Occidental Filipino-Chinese Amity Club Inc., and Crispin Chua of the Southern/Northern Negros Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.
Carbon said that he was impressed with the BCPO director because Placido came prepared during their meeting, as he answered all questions of the business sector.
He also presented his plans to deter crimes in the city, Carbon said.
He said Placido pointed out that the 10 police stations, that cover all the barangays in Bacolod, are more concentrated in the central business district.
To address the gaps and to impose police visibility in the eastern part of the city, where there are booming economic activities, Placido said five more police stations will be established, which include areas in barangays Mansilingan, Cabug, and Granada-Alangilan, Carbon said.
The police will also reactivate its “Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operatives,” where policemen on motorcycles will be deployed in places of convergence and at major thoroughfares in the city.
Placido underscored police visibility to deter crimes, Carbon said.
The business sector, recognizing the importance of the police’s mobility, has committed to donate P10,000 gas allowance every month to the BCPO, he added.
They also agreed to meet every month for updating, Carbon said.
“With this, our level of confidence in the police is high right now. This is good for business,” he said.*