City Hall assures ample support to Cocpo

The city government already released P2,528,433.56 for the electrical connection, furniture and fixtures for  the new 1,000-square meter Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) headquarter building built in 2013 on a lot it donated at barangay 40.

The amount is for the the installation of three 100KVS transformers; split type air condition units; furniture and fixtures; 30KVA generator set; termite interception and baiting; and steel gate and boom gate. Records at the City Hall’s Budget Department indicate the budget for this was obligated and released on October 13 last year, during the time of Senior Supt. Ronnie Cariaga as Cocpo chief.

“The records would show that statements to the media by Cocpo that City Hall did not act on their requests, are inaccurate,” said BenCy G. Ellorin, a consultant at the mayor’s office doing liaison work with the Cocpo.

Last week, this paper quoted Cocpo Acting Director Senior Supt. Roy Bahian telling the City Council that the four-storey building near Xavier University sometime in 2015 have defective doors and door jams and lacks electric connections from the main lines distributed by the Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light Company.

“Police stations now (are) dilapidated and no longer conducive for work. I present this to city council baka mahanapan ng tulong,” Bahian was quoted as saying.

Aside from the assistance for the Cocpo headquarter building, the city government has been providing continuing assistance to the local police. Each member of the local police force receives P2,000 monthly allowance from the City Hall. Annually, that is P28.6 million. The allowance for city police for March 2017 was released by the Budget office last March 22 to Bahian.

City Hall has allocated this year P2.75 million for gasoline, diesel and lubricants for Cocpo vehicles. For the 1st quarter of 2017, the Budget office has already obligated P690,000.

Also included in this year’s budget are for the purchase of one service vehicle, five pick-up trucks and 35 motorcycles.

The support to the Cocpo is an affirmation of Mayor Oscar S. Moreno’s unwavering commitment to support to the local police.  City Hall’s support to the local police is imperative as peace and order is one of the top priorities of the Moreno administration.

Cocpo is under the National Police (PNP), which is a national government agency.

Moreno likened his role in the local police as team manager, with the Police Regional Office 10 as the coach. “Tell us what you need and we will see what we can do to address your needs. What is important is the improved peace and order situation of the city,” Moreno said.

Retired general and Councilor Romy Calizo meanwhile said that aside from the assistance already appropriated, the City Council Committee on Peace and Order where he is chairperson would welcome proposals from the Cocpo. The proposals however would have to be scrutinized as the Cocpo is part of a national agency and has its own budget from Camp Crame.

Meanwhile, the city government is already finalizing requirements for the donation of lots for the proposed new police stations, in barangay Kauswagan and barangay Mambuaya.

The city’s police to population ratio is deficient. Ideally the police to population ratio is 1:500. For Cagayan de Oro City, it is around 1:800. The establishment of new police stations would facilitate addition to the 1,200 member Cocpo force. It would also unburden the Carmen Police Station which has the biggest coverage among the police stations and improve police presence in the upland barangays, especially where the city’s prime tourism attraction – white water rafting — is located. (cio)