ILOILO CITY — A total of 299 policemen were deployed in select areas of Western Visayas for the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (RPSB) program of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
OFFICIALS pose during the sendoff ceremony for the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (RPSB) program in Camp Delgado in Iloilo City on Friday, May 31. (Tara Yap)
Police Major Gen. Bernard Banac, director of the PNP-Police Community Relations, graced the send-off ceremony at the regional headquarters in Camp Delgado here on Friday, May 31.
The RPSB was implemented as part of sustaining the success of the Community Support Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Retooled Community Support Program of local government units.
“This aims to prevent the resurgence of insurgency; insulate unaffected communities from the recovery efforts of the Communist Terrorist Group, and to assist the communities address their concerns and facilitate in availing the basic services of the government,” said Banac.
“Our police will serve as facilitators, mentors in delivery of service in select areas, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas or GIDA,” added Banac.
Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, director of the Police Regional Office-6, said police deployed were vetted from the Regional, Provincial, and City Mobile Forces based on their abilities and capabilities of forging better community relations enabling mutual trust and cooperation.
The initial deployment was in 17 barangays across Western Visayas.
Iloilo province has four identified barangays. They are in the towns of Igbaras, Lambunao, Maasin, and Tubungan.
Bacolod City also has four identified barangays.
Capiz province has three identified barangays. All three are in the town of Tapaz.
Negros Occidental province has two identified barangays. These are in the component cities of Cadiz and Kabankalan.
There is also one barangay each in Libacao town, Aklan province and Sibalom town, Antique province.