By Glazyl Masculino BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Police Director Col. Romeo Baleros encouraged personnel of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) here to share a portion of their rice allowance with the victims of the Taal volcano eruption in Batangas province. Caption. Col. Romeo Baleros, Negros Occidental police director in a recent press conference at Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) headquarters in Bacolod City. (Photo by Glazyl Masculino/ MANILA BULLETIN) Baleros, in a press statement, said the rice allowance was a privilege given to members of the uniformed service. The allowance amounts to P650 which is equivalent to 20 kilos of rice. It is given monthly to the uniformed personnel. Baleros, a native of Taal town which was one of the most affected towns of the volcano eruption, stressed that the announcement was not mandatory. “It’s like an appeal to the compassionate hearts of the provincial police force if they can share a portion of the said allowance this month,” he said. Thousands of people in the province were affected when the volcano erupted last January 12. He said 50 percent of the rice allowance, or P325, will be collected from 1,971 personnel of the NOCPPO by the finance section. The amount will be given to the barangay officials of selected affected barangays in Taal town. He also told the personnel to revisit the contingency plan on volcano eruption and similar natural calamities to ensure readiness especially that Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano in Negros Oriental, is situated in Negros island.