CEBU, Philippines - After being assured that they could finally get the five-month delayed monthly allowance, personnel of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) have something to hope for again.
The Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) chief, Engr. Eugene Elizalde, has pushed for an additional P2,000 allowance for the City police.
"That's what we are fighting for, additional incentives for our law enforcers," Elizalde said.
Police Chief Insp. Enrique Belciña, head of the CCPO's Police Community Relations (PCR) branch, said Mayor Michael Rama, during last Monday's command conference, already promised to increase their allowance from P2,000 to P4,000.
Belciña said they also hope to receive the P2,000 allowance on January after it was no longer received since August by least 1,100 policemen of CCPO.
Under the Peace and Order Program, the amount of P120 million was proposed for the allowances and incentives of the judiciary and police departments.
During the deliberation of the proposed 2014 annual budget, the increased of P2,000 allowances for Cebu City police officers and those assigned in upland barangays was tackled by the city legislators.
This year, close to P40 million supplemental budget for the allowances of policemen was not approved by the City Council due to lack of funding.
Elizalde said the city government must acknowledge the efforts and good standing of Cebu City police by increasing their allowances.
"The cash incentive is a privilege that will be given to the law enforcement agencies. Angayan lamang nga pun-an sa ilang maayong gibuhat sa syudad," Elizalde said.
Belciña said the city government prioritized other matters including the calamity victims so the distribution of the allowances was delayed.
The PCR chief said he has no problem with the five-month delay, which he said has been the longest time, because the allowance is actually a privilege given to them and they also understood why the government has to prioritize the calamity.
A Police Officer 1 in CCPO who requested anonymity said he is fine with the delay but hopes that the city government will make true to its promise to eventually give them their long overdue incentive.
"Ok ra man ma-delay, basta naa lang, dili kay pa-asa lang," he said.
However, a Senior Police Officer expressed disappointment on the delay.
"I think it's because majority of the police officers were not voters of Cebu City, that's why taken for granted na lang ug dili pud maka-voice out kay basin ilabay sa laing place. They don't know without the police, malungkab or makawat ang kwarta sa katawhan physically. Officially, dili jud okay nga ma-delay, everybody needs money," the police officer said.
Belciña also added that they also requested for additional patrol cars for police stations as well as for the Mobile Patrol Group, Homicide Section, Theft and Robbery Section, and the Crime Scene Investigation Unit. (FREEMAN)