Following the success of the community policing strategy in Muntinlupa City, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos plans to deploy more police officers in drug-affected barangays.

The move is for the cops to fully understand the situation on the ground and help address the problems of residents, as part of the implementation of Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program.

This, as Abalos cited the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (RPSB) program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as one of the effective approaches of the BIDA program in addressing the perennial drug problem in the country.

“In the whole-of-nation, whole-of-government, whole-of community approach of BIDA, pinuputol natin pareho ang bunga at ang ugat mismo sa problema ng iligal na droga,” he said.

The DILG chief issued the statement during the BIDA Stakeholders Dialogue on Monday at the National Capital Region Police Office ( NCRPO) headquarters in Taguig City.

Abalos commended the NCRPO headed by Regional Director PMGEN Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. for deploying 10 police officers to live among informal settler families in drug affected Barangay Putatan in Muntinlupa.

During the immersion of the RPSB team, they helped address some of the common concerns of the residents.

They found out that most of them lack birth certificates and could hardly read and write.

The cops endeared themselves to residents as they helped address their problems, thus gaining their trust and respect.

Abalos added another BIDA intervention is the provision of temporary employment to former persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under the cash-for-work program of the Department of Labor and Employment.

During the said dialogue, the DILG met with stakeholders to find common strategies for collaboration on various developmental concerns.

These issues include unemployment, education, integration to the community, drug-related crimes, and family and community relations.

Among the sectors represented were national government agencies, local government units, private sector, academe, judiciary, and the religious sector.

“The problem with illegal drugs cannot be won by technology, it cannot be won by money but it can be won by hearts,” Abalos pointed out.

He underscored: “Kaya magtulungan tayo, for the sake of our children and the future of our children.”

Original Article at: https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/Abalos-wants-more-cops-in-drug-affected-communities/NC-2024-1065