Policemen double as teachers
CAMP BGEN.OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union – Full-fledged police, part-time teacher.
Nine policemen from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) of the Region 1 police office here have been deployed on a special mission to serve as substitute teachers in insur gency-infested areas under the new “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program.
Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, RMG Ilocos chief, told The PUNCH that the program was first launched on January 26 in San Marcelino Elementary School in Dingras, Ilocos Norte, followed by Bachelor East Elementary School in Natividad, Pangasinan on Feb. 23, and in Alibangsay Elementary School in Bagulin, La Union on March 13.
Borromeo said the project supports the government’s efforts in addressing the illiteracy problem, which is one of the root causes of insurgency, alongside the aim of securing the areas.
The policemen who have been serving as teachers are actually graduates of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and joined the police service only in recent years. They are P01 Nowell Aguinaldo, PO1 Arnel Saclayan, PO1 Rodolfo Mapalo Jr, P01 Angelo Guyab Jr, P01 Gerald Hullana, P01 Eugene Aquino, P01 Rodel Asunio, P01Erwin Cruz, and P01 Fe Bernardino.
Borromeo said they do not get additional incentives for the side job but they are happy because they find fulfillment practicing their education degrees.
Among the three areas, it is in Alibangsay that the cops as teachers are fully maximized as the school, located in a mountainous area and cannot be reached by car, has only three teachers for grades one to six. During the rainy season, it actually takes a half- day walk from Centro Baguilin before reaching Alibangsay, Borromeo said.
Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, police regional director, said through this project, they proved that policemen are not just protectors and defenders of the country and the people “but we can also be civic workers and teachers as well”.
He added that the program will remove whatever negative impressions of communities have towards the police force “because it shows that we have the heart to serve and the willingness to sacrifice our lives just to reach out to the people.”
Natividad Mayor Alejandrea Supnet hailed the project as unique because it does not only help children understand the role of the role of policemen as defenders and protectors of our nation but it provides security through police visibility.
Dr. Theodora Esteban, head teacher of Bachelor East Elementary School, said the project will allow policemen to become closer not only to the students but also to the people in the community whom they have sworn to protect. She commended Borromeo for coming up with this very noble endeavor.—EVA
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