Philippine National Police chief, General Debold Sinas, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the P10 million Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Transient Quarters at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City, today, February 7.
Sinas thanked Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang-Lingkod Party-List) who facilitated the inclusion of the transient quarters in the General Appropriations Act of 2021.
The construction for the 12-room transient quarters will begin once the Special Allotment Release Order from the Department of Budget Management (DBM) is released.
The transient quarters will enable police officers assigned at the NOCPPO to settle immediately in the area and render police service, Sinas said.
It was the first official visit of the PNP chief to the NOCPPO.
Sinas said he brought the chiefs of the PNP Directorates with him to see the situation of the police in Negros Occidental and will visit their counterparts in Iloilo tomorrow, February 8.
Prior to groundbreaking rites Sinas and the Chiefs of the PNP Directorates joined the other guests in a V formation.
He said they have taken on the Voltes V theme that is a personification of cooperation, coordination, and collaboration among different sectors of society.
Sinas also commended the NOCPPO led by Police Col. Romy Palgue for a job well, for being able to maintain peace and order in Negros Occidental despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
He reminded the police to be careful to protect themselves against the virus as they carry out their duties in the field.
The police casualties from COVID-19 hit 30 with the death of a policewoman Saturday, February 6, shortly after giving birth. She was infected by COVID-19 while delivering her child, he said.
Gov. Eugenio Jose. Lacson, in his speech, said Sinas presence will definitely inspire and boost the confidence and morale of the police in Negros Occidental, given the difficulty and complexity of their present tasks.
He said the transient quarters are a sound and practical way of supporting the needs and enhancing the capacities of police officers in these difficult times.
Lacson thanked Sinas for his visit to the province and urged everyone to continue to rally behind the PNP.
“Our present circumstances have demonstrated quite clearly our need for utmost unity and cooperation, if we are to overcome the manifold challenges we are confronted with right now,” he said.
CLERGY MEETING
Sinas and the top PNP officials also held a closed-door meeting with the clergy at the Bacolod Bishop’s House today.
Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon said he could not disclose what they discussed, as they agreed it would be off the record.*