To further improve peace and order situation in Dagupan, the city government conducted a half-day seminar for barangay public safety officers (BSPO) dubbed “Capability Building Seminar for BSPO” on February 15 at the People’s Astrodome.
 

The seminar, which gathered more than 300 BSPOs or barangay tanods, aimed to equip members of the city’s security force with various techniques on how to effectively carry out their duties and responsibilities as force multipliers to law enforcement agencies and to empower them towards greater participation and involvement in the city government’s peace and order program.
 

One of the highlights of the event is the turnover of 62 mountain bikes with helmets and 440 reflectorized vests to the city’s barangay security forces for their roving patrols especially at night to prevent any attempt to commit crimes in their respective barangays.
 

In his speech, Brian Lim, Mayor Benjamin Lim’s chief of staff, commended the BSPOs for their volunteerism and sense of duty in keeping Dagupan one of the safest places to live in the country.
 

He also stressed the importance of peace and order in the city to attract more investors and bolster Dagupan’s status as a premier business center. 
 

Speakers of the seminar were Dagupan City police chief P/Supt. Edgar Basbas and public order and safety office chief Robert Erfe-Mejia, who both discussed related topics on Barangay Watch Program; city director of the Department of Interior and Local Government Expedita Callanta re-echoed the mandated duties and responsibilities of BSPOs, Judge Rolando Mislang lectured on warrantless arrest, hot pursuit and citizen’s arrest procedures and waste management division chief Reggie Ubando handled topics on disaster monitoring and response.
 

According to Basbas, Dagupan City recorded an impressive 92.9% crime solution efficiency rate in 2006, with an 8.5% increased compared to the previous year.
 

“We could not effectively solve criminal incidents without the support of  the community and if we were not complemented by the BSPOs,” he noted.
 

Vice mayor Alvin Fernandez and councilor Joey Tamayo underscored the contribution of the BSPOs through Ordinance No. 1798-2003 which grants health, medical and other support schemes to BSPOs and other civilian volunteer organizations.
 

City administrator Raffy Baraan and some punong barangay also graced the occasion. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)