Police to undergo weight loss program

SOME policemen of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will undergo weight loss program to meet the required height to weight ratio of a Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz said Wednesday they fully support the program of PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome to reduce the weight of overweight PNP members.

Bartolome earlier directed the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) to conduct similar accounting and weight monitoring among PNP personnel in the Police Regional Office.

Bartolome said all PNP personnel are required to undergo semestral Physical Fitness Test (PFT) to determine if they are in physical shape to perform police work.

According to PNP regulations, failed PFT ratings are a ground for separation from the service.

Aside from regular physical exercises of BCPO, De la Paz said they will hold lectures or information drive on how to scientifically reduce weight through the reduction of carbohydrates intake and to stay away from fatty foods.

He said in BCPO, there is small percentage of PNP personnel who are overweight, adding that they will identify the PNP personnel who are overweight with more than 34 inches waistline.

The city director also said they will invite the personnel of City Health Office to help them in the program.

“Overweight can be considered as obstacles or hindrance during the hot pursuit operations,” he said.

He cited that those overweight PNP personnel should be given field assignments to reduce their weight. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa)