By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Sipalay City is the third locality to have a standard city police station building in Negros Occidental.
Mayor Gina Lizares and Police Colonel Leo Pamittan, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) led the inauguration of the new police station situated at the back of the City Hall in Barangay Gil Montilla last Monday.
Pastor Samuel Garcia of Sipalay City Baptist Church officiated the blessing of the new police station.
Police Lieutenant Judesses Catalogo, Nocppo’s public information officer, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) allocated a budget of P32 million for the said building.
The local government then donated a lot and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) constructed the three-storey building, he added.
The construction of the building was completed after more than a year, Catalogo said.
Based on the specifications, a standard city police station should have a building defense, receiving area, big conference room, comfort rooms, and enough offices for the personnel, Catalogo said.
The building formerly occupied by the city police force will be utilized by the local government for their other offices, he said.
The city police force is now occupying the new building which is already fully furnished.
Lizares expressed her gratitude for this momentous activity. “Finally, the long wait is over. Sipalay cops have a new home,” she said in her message.
Police Colonel Algen Taba, chief of the Engineering Support Unit, Police Major Bryan Sagayadoro, Sipalay City police chief, sixth district Board Member Jeffrey Tubola, and Mr. Rodney Gustilo, 3rd District Engineer of DPWH were also present in the activity.
Meanwhile, Catalogo said that Talisay and Escalante City already have their standard police station buildings, as well as the towns of San Enrique, Valladolid, Hinoba-an, Pontevedra, and Toboso, among others.
Catalogo said that Nocppo is hoping to unveil more standard police station buildings in the province next year.
