The implementation of the Revitalized Pulis Sa Barangay (RPSB) program “humanizes the police’’ which is vital in winning the public’s trust and bringing the government closer to the people, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. said on Thursday, March 21.
Introduced in 2011 and expanded in 2019, Abalos explained that the RPSB embodies the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) commitment to community-oriented policing as law enforcers tirelessly work to ensure safety and security in barangays where they are assigned.
Aside from maintaining law and order, Abalos noted that the community cops also perform other tasks such as assisting in live birth registrations, and facilitating free theoretical driving courses.
Abalos also pointed out that the police officers can provide home medical assistance, and conduct lectures in schools about the DILG's Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan (BIDA) program and other services.
Under the RPSB, Abalos revealed that the police personnel are immersed in the community so they will be able to learn firsthand from the residents their primary concerns and help them find solutions to their problems.
"Ang pulis ay ibinababa sa barangay para doon mismo tumira, aalamin ang problema at pangangailangan ng mga residente at tutulungan silang lutasin ang mga ito (Police officers were dispatched and asked to live in the barangays to learn first-hand the problems and needs of the residents and help them solve their problems),’’ Abalos stressed.
Abalos was in Barangay Putatan in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday, March 20, to check on the progress of the implementation of the RPSB which he described as a good concept.
The DILG said that the RPSB team members assigned in Barangay Putatan were warmly welcomed by the residents who showed their appreciation for their services and genuine concern for their welfare.
"Dahil sa magandang pagpapatupad ng RPSB dito sa inyong lugar (Barangay Putatan), bumaba ang ktimen, ang droga halos kumalahati (Due to the excellent implementation of the RPSB in your place, crime rate decreased and drug-related cases went down by almost 50 percent),’’ Abalos exclaimed.
Abalos disclosed that the mission of the RPSB team encompasses several key objectives, including sustaining progress achieved by government initiatives delivered to the barangays, preventing any potential resurgence of criminal and terrorist groups, and safeguarding the unaffected neighboring communities.
Aside from Abalos, Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano Rufino Biazon, PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations Major Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, and DILG Undersecretary Odilon Pasaraba graced the event.
For his part, Biazon thanked Abalos for his visit as he urged his constituents to support RPSB which is aligned with the Kapayapaan and Kaayusan components of the “7K agenda of the city government.’’