SOME 41 obese police personnel in Northern Mindanao joined the third batch of the police's weight loss program while more than 300 members of the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) underwent the annual physical fitness test on Tuesday, January 14.
PRO-10 spokesperson Lt. Col. Mardy Hortillosa said those who fail to maintain the standard weight corresponding to their age and height will be disqualified for promotion.
Hortillosa said the program aims to instill discipline among police personnel and to compel obese personnel to stay fit and healthy so they can carry out their sworn duties and responsibilities effectively.
"Maayo ni nga programa para madisplina gyud ang atong kapolisan nga atimanon ang ilang lawas,"Hortillosa said.
"Usa sa makapa-challenge sa ila is kanang dili sila i-apil sa promotion,"he added.
The obese police officers will undergo 15 days weight loss program and they will be assessed after. Hortillosa said this program started last year.
A new memorandum requires members of the PNP to maintain their weight before they would be allowed to undertake further studies for promotion.
PNP officer-in-charge Lt. General Archie Gamboa said he was about to sign the memorandum, which specifies a certain body mass index (BMI) requirement.
BMI refers to a person's weight divided by the square of his/her height. A high BMI can indicate high body fatness. (With reports from Sunstar Philippines)