THE proposed planned expansion of Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to Davao City Police District (DCPD) earned the nod of new chief PNP director general Oscar Albayalde in an effort to provide Dabawenyos efficient security coverage.
After his courtesy call to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Albayalde granted an interview with the media where he said that there is a need to add more cops in Davao City considering the land area and growing population.
DCPO submitted its position paper on the proposed expansion with the endorsement of the City Council and the Davao City Peace and Order Council to the national headquarters.
Albayalde said that he had seen it and it's being studied at the national headquarters before being approved.
“That is being studied now by the directorate for plans and it will be recommended to the National Police Commission,” he said.
Once it will be approved, the DCPO will no longer be called as such but it will become a police district with bigger manpower.
He also said that he had given the Davao region a bigger recruitment quota at 500 considering the need for additional personnel for anti-criminality effort.
Under the proposal, DCPO intends to have a special recruitment quota and training of 1,700 to 2,000 police personnel for Davao City alone. DCPO currently has a total strength of 1,890 personnel. DCPO also wants the creation of four police stations to be constructed in the areas of Talomo, Sta. Ana, Buhangin and San Pedro. With this, DCPO could further secure the city with enhanced police visibility, which is observed as an effective deterrence to crime.
Unlike a police station which is headed by a senior superintendent, a police district will be directed by a police chief superintendent. (JCR)