On June 23, 2017, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Public Information Division issued a news release informing the public that the guidelines for the annual observance of the Police-Community Relations Month (PCRM) was amended to promote more responsive community-based crime prevention programs for the Philippine National Police (PNP). As such the Commission issued Memorandum Circular No. 2017-002 dated June 2, 2017 designating the Crime Prevention and Coordination Service (CPCS) as the appropriate unit in planning PCRM activities.
Atty Rogelio T. Casurao, NAPOLCOM Vice Chairman, pointed out that CPCS, in its engagements in the development and management of crime prevention programs, projects and activities, including organization and planning for the National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW), has already established work linkages and networks with civil society organizations and government agencies supportive of the NAPOLCOM’s programs for the PNP. “More importantly, the CPCS has been tasked to promote and implement the Community and Service-Oriented Policing (CSOP) System as a crime prevention framework that would strengthen consciousness among police officers on their key role in assisting local governments in the effective delivery of basic services to the citizenry and enabling communities to achieve socioeconomic development,” Atty. Casurao emphasized.
The celebration of the Police-Community Relations Month was first declared in the month of January pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 783 dated April 12, 1996 with the NAPOLCOM as the lead agency. Said proclamation was issued to develop closer interaction between the PNP and the community in handling peace and order problems. However, the month of January coincides with the PNP Ethics Day and PNP founding Anniversary, hence, on January 24, 2005, the annual observance of the PCRM was moved to July through the issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 764 in order for the PNP and the community to effectively provide impact activities during the said celebration.
For the regional activities, NAPOLCOM-Cordillera Dir. Editha Semilla-Puddoc convened the technical working group on June 21, 2017 purposely to discuss activities for the observance of the 22nd Police-Community Relations Month. Among the lined-up activities are the following: conduct of medical, dental and eye check- up for the elderly and pregnant/lactating women; school visitation and anti-drug abuse lecture for the elementary students; and an orientation on Community-Oriented Policing System (CSOP) for the barangay officials and community leaders to be conducted at Sitio Catioan, Barangay Gaswiling, Kapangan, Benguet on July 18, 2017.
This project will be jointly undertaken by the National Police Commission-Cordillera, Police-Community Relations Division and Regional Health Service of PRO-Cordillera, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-CAR, , Benguet Police Provincial Office and Kapangan Municipal Police Station in coordination with the municipal government of Kapangan and Barangay Gaswiling. Also, with partner Civil Society Organizations such as the Project Martha, RRJA Security and Investigation Agency, and Soroptimist International of Northern Central Luzon.
This year’s PCRM theme is “Police and Community: Sharing Responsibility, Taking Action in Unity”. ** imee guinid-madrid