SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – Taking cue from the very law that created the Philippine National Police (PNP) as a civilian agency, cops from the Northern Luzon region took on another role far from what they’re known for: running after criminals.
This comes as the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1 (RMFB1) 104th Mobile Company, in partnership with Pure Bayanihan, formally turned over a livelihood for a small community in Barangay Fianza in San Nicolas town, Pangasinan.
Coinciding with the 29th Police Community Relations (PCR) Month, Police Regional Office 1 Regional Director Brigadier General Lou Evangelista cited the need for uniformed men to strengthen their relationship with the communities through a grassroots program referred to as the 5Ps+1 Impact Project.
The 5Ps stand for Pabahay, Palikuran, and Pailaw at Pangkabuhayan ni Mamang Pulis.
In a simple ceremony held in Sitio Parugan, Brig. Gen. Evangelista turned over a “small livelihood” from which the Fianza Family and Community Association from Sitio Pastoran could start a business, the revenues of which could be used for community-based projects.
According to Evangelista, the initiative primarily aims to strengthen police-community relations through direct assistance—this time, a small bakeshop with start-up capital amounting to P258,000.
Interestingly, PNP’s community immersion, which promotes inclusive and sustainable development to prevent local communist insurgency, supports the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) framework as provided for in Executive Order No. 70.
“The event serves as a shining example of effective community-police partnership, demonstrating hope and progress for the residents not only of Barangay Fianza but of the entire Region 1,” Evangelista emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Fianza Family and Community Association aptly described the endeavor as “a fervent wish that was made possible by the generosity of kind-hearted individuals.” (AMB/PIA Region 1).
