Regions
Written by Henry Empeño / Correspondent
SUNDAY, 18 JULY 2010 19:12
SUBIC BAY FREE PORT— Stressing the importance of peace and order to economic progress, President Benigno S. Aquino III urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday to do its job well so that the wheels of the economy would continue grinding smoothly.
Mr. Aquino, who was here on Friday on his first visit to Subic as the highest official of the land, unveiled the PNP School for Values and Leadership (PSVL), a re-training facility here that was conceptualized by the PNP two years ago to produce “a more credible, professional and purpose-driven” cadre of police officers.
The President was welcomed at the Subic airport, where the presidential helicopter landed, by PNP Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa, Interior Secretary Jesus Robredo, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano Salonga, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia and Olongapo City’s first lady Anne Gordon.
At the inaugural ceremony, Mr. Aquino first thanked the police force for its role in helping quell military uprisings during the administration of his mother, the late President Cory Aquino. He then exhorted the PNP to continue playing a big role in ensuring economic progress.
“The importance of the police force is very clear. Any society cannot hope to attain progress without a strong institution to promote the security of the people,” Mr. Aquino said.
“This is why our policemen should have continuous training. And this is why we have to provide for their needs so that they can do their job well,” he added.
The President also stressed the need for the National Police to have the right values, saying that the country has no need for law enforcers who break the laws themselves.
“What happens in the streets directly influences the stability of our economy,” Mr. Aquino said. “When the police do their job right, we can be sure that others can go on with their tasks peacefully. The youth can study, the employees can work, and the economy would run properly.”
“We are both in the business of saving lives,” Mr. Aquino went on. “Our means may be different, but the goals are the same—to achieve our dream of a more peaceful and abundant nation.”
In the same occasion, the PNP’s Verzosa thanked the Philippine Antigraft Commission (PAGC) and the SBMA for supporting the PSVL project, noting that PAGC gave a P14-million grant for the construction of the facilities, while the SBMA provided a free 25-year lease for the 1.8-hectare school site at Subic’s Naval Magazine area.
Verzosa said the PSVL facility will be used to conduct refresher courses on values formation, leadership training and personality development to transform police officers into servant-leaders.
The police training-facility project broke ground in May 2008 under the administration of then-PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr., who said the school would play a significant part of the PNP’s reform agenda.
http://businessmirror.com.
In Photo: President Aquino gamely fields questions during an “ambush interview” at the sidelines of the inauguration of the PNP School for Values and Leadership at the Subic Bay Free Port on Friday, July 16.
(Henry Empeño)
Last Updated ( Sunday, 18 July 2010 19:21 )
Source: http://businessmirror.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment