BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is aiming to be classified as a Type A City Police Office (CPO) to expand the number of its police stations.
This upgrade would allow for the expansion of up to 20 clustered stations from the current 10 police stations.
“Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez envisioned making Bacolod City a Super City, and we want to be part of this plan,” said BCPO director Colonel Joeresty Coronica. “We believe that peace and order is the foundation of all development. Without peace and order the place cannot be progressive.”
He added: “So, before pa man ma-realize ang tanan naton nga vision, i-maximize naton ang potential sang Bacolod City… BCPO should not be left out of the development.”
Coronica explained that there is now a need to upgrade the BCPO’s status from Type B to Type A CPO in order to establish more police stations to cope with the city’s rapid growth.
At present, the cities of Cebu, Davao, General Santos, and Zamboanga are the only ones classified as Type A CPO.
The BCPO director said one of the requirements to be classified as Type A CPO is the population. The city must have more than 650,000 residents.
Coronica said they are now in the process of requesting the Police Regional Office 6 for a representation to the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame regarding this. After which, the Camp Crame will make a representation to the National Police Commission for the eventual passage of a resolution elevating BCPO to Type A CPO.
Earlier, Mayor Benitez said the city is eyeing to establish five more police stations to boost the safety and security of its growing populace.
Based on initial plans, the locations would be in barangays Banago, Estefania, Vista Alegre, Cabug, and Singcang-Airport./PN
