The Philippine National Police is seeking a budget of P6.9 million from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.

Senior Supt. Charles Calima, provincial police director, yesterday said the proposed P6.9 million budget will be used in the drive against all forms of crimes and for upgrading the skills of Negrense policemen in the law enforcement campaign.

Calima has created six anti-crime czars as part of his six-pronged approach and vision with the acronym "NEGROS", which, he said, aims to make the province unsafe for criminals.

NEGROS stands for neighborhood watch, enhance individual and unit skills, get everyone involved, reduce crime, on line policing and sustain ISO (internal security operation).

Of the P6.9 million proposed budget, P1.4 million will be allocated for "Know Thy Neighbor Program", P600,000 for police weekend academy, P1.2 million for each team of anti-crime czars, P1.9 million for on-line policing system and P1.2 million for sustained internal security operation campaign.

Governor Joseph Maranon yesterday assured Calima of his support to the NEGROS campaign. However, he suggested to Calima that it should be focus to the municipalities, saying the cities have enough resources to take care of their own programs.

For this year alone, the city government of San Carlos extended P7.8 million support to its police station, Silay City government- P3.4 million, and Victorias City government - P2.5 million, police records show.

Marañon said that what is important to him is not being the number one among the police units in the region, but the performance and accessibility of the police to Negrenses.

Calima also solicited inputs from various stakeholders in the law enforcement campaign, including the Negros Occidental Defense Press Corps and Media Advocates for Reproductive Health and Empowerment, on how to further improve the delivery of basic police service to Negrenses.

The so-called "anti-crime czars" in the campaign against the proliferation of unlicensed firearms are Senior Inspector Ronnie Grajo, illegal gambling - Senior Inspector Leonardo Angcon;

For illegal drugs - Senior Inspector Gary Alan Resuma, campaign against wanted persons - Senior Inspector Rosauro Francisco; for unsolved cases - Senior Inspector Manuel Vicente Ogatis; for counter-intelligence - Supt. Armando Delearna; and for intelligence - Inspector Robert Dejucos.

Calima said the "Know thy neighbor program" will encourage the public to report any persons engaged in illegal activities, while the putting up of a "weekend academy" is aimed at enhancing skills of policemen against all forms of crimes.*GPB

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