PPSC trains 34,876 law enforcers, firefighters in 2013

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 34,876 police, fire and jail personnel underwent various training programs conducted by the Philippine Public Safety College last year, PPSC president lawyer Ruben Platon said yesterday.

Of those who availed themselves of the programs, 19,446 finished their courses while 15,430 are nearing the culmination of their training, he said.

“The figure is a product of the 714 classes the college has conducted pursuant to its Department of Budget and Management-approved master education and training program for 2013 of which 384 have been completed, while 330 are ongoing,” Platon said in his yearend report to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

Most of the trainees – 31,626 – came from the Philippine National Police, including 1,229 PNP Academy cadets. Under the law, control and supervision over the PNPA is entrusted to PPSC, he said.

The PPSC also trained 1,636 from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and 1,614 from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The PPSC’s training courses are composed of modules on a wide array of public safety and police subjects such as community policing, anti-terrorism, disaster prevention and mitigation, anti-corruption and value formation.

Platon said specialized courses such as intelligence, investigation, patrol, commando training, hostage negotiation, incident and crisis management and other special police operations are handled by the PNP.

“This year, we are strengthening our training programs especially on disaster management in light of the crucial role that law enforcers and public safety personnel play in times of calamities, as exemplified during the strong earthquake and Super Typhoon Yolanda that hit the country last year,” Platon said.