Pangasinan tops region in new PNP stations
SAN JACINTO—-Pangasinan, the biggest province in Region 1, received the biggest share of fund support for the construction of new police stations over the last three years, according to Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil.
Of the 37 new police stations put up in the Ilocos Region, 24 are located in Pangasinan.
Bataoil said their list shows 22 new police stations have already been inaugurated and two other, located in San Jacinto and Bautista towns, are due for completion.
The new police stations were funded by the Philippine National Police with a counterpart from the local government.
Construction of new police stations is under the PNP Transformation Program initiated by then Police Director General Arturo Lomibao and continued by his successor. Police Director General Oscar Calderon.
The 13 other new police stations are in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union.
Four more new police stations are being constructed in the province, namely in San Quintin, Labrador, Villasis and barangay Carmen in Rosales.
The police station in Dagupan City is already next in the line, said Bataoil.
House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. already pledged to set aside part of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the new Dagupan Police Station.
NEW RECRUITS
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office 1, also under the terms of the PNP Transformation Program, has bee given a quota of 200 policemen for recruitment this year.
At the same time, Batgaoli said his command is presently addressing the problem of lack of weapons. Many of the old and dilapidated firearms are being refurbished to make them serviceable and function like brand new.
The cost of the refurbishing are shouldered by the PNP with a counterpart fund from the local government units.
Eight unserviceable M16 rifles were refurbished and re-issued to the Dagupan Police and now being used as commando-type firearms of the Special Weapons and Tactic (SWAT) team.
“Hopefully, all LGUs will help us in this effort so that there will be sufficient firearms for all the police stations,” Bataoil said.–LM
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