C/Insp. Elmer Lim, chief of the Operations Branch of the CPPO, yesterday told The FREEMAN that these computers will be placed at the Tactical Operations Center of the CPPO for its computerization program.
Lim said that Ramon Aboitiz, one of the members of the board of trustees of the Aboitiz Group, represented the foundation during the ceremony. Supt. Erson Digal, deputy director of CPPO operations and PO1 Odette Aguillon also graced the turnover ceremony.
The foundation donated the computers to the Philippine National Police, CPPO in particular, for crime prevention activities, for monitoring of all police stations in the province using webcams, and for checking on any related information anytime they want. The donation was also Aboitiz' way of supporting the PNP in terms of their computerization program.
Lim said that Aboitiz promised them they will be given additional units if the need arises. The foundation will also shoulder the expenses for training all policemen in computer literacy, and the enhancement of computer skills of those who are already computer literate.
Further, Lim said that Provincial Director, S/Supt. Vicente Loot, who is in Manila attending a conference, expressed his appreciation and gratefulness to the foundation for such kind of support.
Lim proudly said yesterday that the CPPO is the first in the Philippines that initiated the computerization program in the whole province.
He added that local government units "have demonstrated support for them since they will be provided with connectivity through the internet, service provider, and video cameras, and that they will also be provided monthly payments for this."
The Capitol through Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will provide computer hardware to the 51 police stations in the province, while Big Foot Company will take charge of the software installation, Lim said. The Aboitiz Foundation will also provide servers, and hardware to computers at the CPPO headquarters. The entire computerization project is worth around P4 million, he said.
Also, Lim said that this is the result of the resourcefulness of the provincial police director as his contribution to the organization. The PNP has not reportedly paid a single centavo for this project. - Norvie S. Misa