BACOLOD CITY – The new Silay City, Negros Occidental police station opened in Barangay Mambulac on Friday, October 4.
THE new headquarters of the Silay Component City Police Station opened in Barangay Mambulac on Friday, October 4. (Glazyl Masculino)
Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Police Regional Office-6 (Western Visayas) chief; Police Col. Rainerio de Chavez, Negros Occidental police director; Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, and Police Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Darroca, Silay police chief, inaugurated the P21-million standard Philippine National Police station.
Darroca said the project materialized through the help of the local government unit and PNP national headquarters which allocated a budget of P5 million and P16 million, respectively.
“This is very game changing,” Darroca said as he thanked the city government, especially Gallego, for shouldering the remaining amount needed to push through with the project.
Darroca said construction started in February 2023 and completed ahead of time.
The two-story building in a 2,500-square meter lot donated by the city government has a roof deck and houses several offices and the title and has been transferred under the name of the PNP.
It is fully furnished and will be operational by next week, Darroca said.
It will also have a firing range, a Special Weapons and Tactics barracks, and quarters in the compound. “This will need an additional budget and will be implemented in about three years,” Darroca said.
Darroca assured the people of Silay of improved quality of service, accessibility, and clean and safe police station.
The 50-year-old former police station in Barangay 1 will be occupied by government offices that will vacate the city market once demolished.
Gallego said they are proud with the outcome of the project. “This is a symbolic event for Silay City, and we are thankful.”
Wanky said he has requested funds for the creation of an operations center in the city.
“It’s my dream for Silay,” he said. “If we really want to give best services to the people of Silay, we have to continuously enhance other capabilities.” Wanky said.
Wanky said police need to evolve in terms of service as crimes also evolve.
He said that closed-circuit television cameras are essential as 99 percent of street crimes caught by these would be solved.
“We want to be like other police stations equipped with advanced technology to monitor major thoroughfares and crime-prone areas through a CCTV,” Wanky said.