BY LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

THE Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) headed by Police Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, provincial director, is embarking on a very noble program: Education for indigent children.
Actually, they will implement this June four programs on education:

These are the Batang Mahirap, Edukasyon mo Sagot ko; the Distance Learning Program; Pulis Ko, Teacher Ko; and the Education for Out-of-School Youths.

Nerez said another plan is the putting up of a Day Care Center.

The Distance Learning Program is for college undergraduate policemen who would like to get a college diploma before year 2009.

I think come that year, undergrad policemen will be attrited or will be removed from the police service unless they apply for optional retirement early on.

Attrition or separation by force from the police service is mandated in the PNP Law. Undergrad policemen were actually given chance several times and the attrition year was moved back a couple of times.

Nerez said of the more than 100 undergraduate policemen serving in Pangasinan, 61 signified intention to avail of the program.

The PPPO had a tie-up with the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur which offers the distance learning program.

Nerez said the policemen’s tuition fees will be shouldered by the provincial office. The policemen scholars have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that if they fail to finish their course during the time coverage of the program, or have become iskul bukol, they will pay back the tuition fees spent for them.

The choice is with them, concentrate and get the college diploma free-of-charge and continue being with the PNP or bungle the opportunity and bade goodbye to the PNP.
This effort is being introduced by the PPPO.

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On the Batang Mahirap, Edukasyon Mo Sagot Ko, Senior Insp. Monaliza Asis, head of the provincial command’s Family, Juvenile and Gender Awareness Development Desk (FJGAD) and Deputy Police Community Relations (PCR) Officer, they will send to school children from indigent families.

The 48 municipal and city police stations all over Pangasinan will send to school one child each starting this school year.
It will be a continuing program, she said, thus the beneficiaries are children who are to start in Grade 1 until they finish elementary.The respective police stations will shoulder the child’s uniform, shoes, school supplies and school fees.

Beneficiaries are those tots preferably living near the school where she/he will be enrolled and near the police station so that the child can by fed lunch by the policemen. Also, there’s an agreement with the parents that the child will not be forced to stop schooling just so he/she can help them earn a living.

Where to get the money

How will the police stations finance this project (which started at the Police Regional Office or PRO1 and cascaded down to the police provincial offices)?

Mona explained that DSWD gave them permission to solicit funds through coin banks which police stations distributed/placed at business establishments, banks and others.

The coin banks were distributed on April 23 and will be opened end of June at PRO1 before the representative of the DSWD and the PRO1’s regional auditor.

“Habang wala pa yong pondo o kung kulang yong nalikom na pera , the expenses of the child will be shouldered by the police station,” said Madam Mona.

The child scholars so far are 7-year old Hazel Patungan y Casilang who is enrolled at the Bolingit Constantino Elementary School (c/o Calasiao Police Station); 7-year old Keefe Brian Montemayor Diatre who is enrolled at the Magtaking Elementary School (c/o San Carlos City Police Station); 7-year old Erica Olarte who is enrolled at the Salud Elementary School (c/o Bolinao Police Station); and 5-year old Edmar Caalim who will be studying at the Anda Planners Daycare Center (c/o Anda Police Station).

Captain Asis said the different police stations’ PCR and FJGAD division heads have until June 15 to submit the names of their scholars.

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On the Pulis Ko, Teacher Ko, Col. Nerez said they are coordinating with DepEd schools divisions in Pangasinan.
Policemen who are BS Education graduates and board passers will be tapped to teach (elementary students I think) at a certain given time in far- flung barangays.

This is a nationwide project of the Philippine National Police.
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Nerez also said they are introducing the Education for Out-of-School Youths.
“This program was initiated by the PNP under the BLESS (Basic Literacy and Education Support System) for the less fortunate children. The participants or recipients are children like those selling (plastics) at the public market as their parents cannot send them to school.

We will be asking their parents na imbes na andon yong mga bata na palaboy-laboy at nagbebenta ng plastik sa palengke (yong mga kita nila ibinibili ng rugby), we will be getting them in and we’ll send them to school,” he remarked.

It will be a 13-week education program. After the 13th week, DepEd will conduct an accreditation and evaluation or equivalency test on the students. If they pass, then they will be accelerated to a higher learning system just like what boxer Manny Pacquiao went through.

All I can say is, God Bless all the people with big hearts for children.