Labra: Pakigsandurot needs barangays’ help

CEBU, Philippines —  According to Cebu City Councilor Paul Labra, for Oplan Pakigsandurot to be effective, barangays have to work with the police.

Oplan Pakigsandurot is a community outreach and peace initiative program where all the constituents of the Cebu City Government, barangay officials, the community, and the police help secure their own neighborhoods.

“The effectiveness of the Oplan Pakigsandurot depends on how active barangays implement them together with the police,” Labra said.

He said that there are barangays that have successfully implemented the program such as Barangay Guadalupe.

“I see minimal crimes being committed there because of the presence of the police, the presence of the volunteers, always, every night, everyday in patrolling in their barangays,” he said.

He acknowledged that they can’t address all the problems in the barangay. He also highlighted the important role of volunteers and of families for their responsibility to guide their children.

He further pointed out that not all of the barangays are active in implementing the program and is stipulating that police and all the sectors of the barangay should work hand in hand.

“Atong mga tanod, gamay ra na sila sa kabarangayan, ang atong ka pulisan gamay ra sad na sila, they lack numbers,” Labra said.

Labra said the personnel are in need of the logistics assistance to which the Cebu City Government is proposing a budget to ensure help during their police roving patrol such as vehicles, gases, handcuffs, uniforms and sticks for Barangay Police Security Officers (BPSO).

“Especially to those who are active, that is my challenge to the barangays, if they are implementing this actively which will resolve the decrease of crime in the area, then we will all the more help them,” Labra said.

In Oplan Pakigsandurot, Capacity Building Seminar is also conducted on BPSO personnel to drill in Basic Life Support and Disaster Preparedness Training spearheaded by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office so they can take action during emergency situations.

“Walay malampuson na peace and order na program kung dili apilon ang katawhan,” Labra said. — Meriane Katherine T. Espina, CNU intern/BRP (FREEMAN)