Aklan Police Media Undergoes Upgrading on news production

Jun Ariolo N. Aguirre
Kalibo, Aklan- In order to effectively ensure transparency to the police system in the province, the Aklan Provincial Police Office will sponsor a journalism seminar among local media here covering police beat.

According to Aklan Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, the upgrading seminar for local media is part of the Philippine National Police integrated transformation program whose Aklan is one of the eight target pilot site in the country.

"The media has an effective role to communicate the state of peace and order among the residents. Through the media, the residents know the situations around them. We sponsor this activity to train local media on effective transmission of information to the public and avoid misunderstanding," Durana said.

To be held on September 15, 2007 topics includes releasing of information on criminal and non-criminal matters and releasing crime scene informations; releasing information on intelligence and investigation; news production and news writing, understanding the media; crimes against honor; ethics in journalism and information during crises situation.

The conference is in coordination with the Aklan Police Defense Press Corps and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas-Kalibo.

Aside from the media, participants for the whole day activity includes PNP community relations representative among the 17 police stations in the province including women's desk officers.

Durana said the planned process for the transformation and integration includes the setting of a P10 million new building at the Camp Pastor Martelino, the setting up of computer facilities such as being wifi ready among others.

"We have also established a Computer Driven Statistics (COMSTAT) for Boracay Special Tourists Police Office (BSTPO) and the Kalibo Police station as pilot site in the province," Durana said.

The BSTPO were named instead of the usual Boracay Police Stations due to the resolutions approved by the National Police Commission because of special concerns on tourism.

The COMSTAT aimed to establish a scientific analysis of crime situation both in Kalibo and Boracay in order for the APPO to have a concrete plan on how to solve crime situation in two areas.

"One realistic example of which is we learned that in the previous weeks there is an increase of shoplifting cases in Kalibo most of the suspects are minors. We also analyzed that majority of the suspects are residents of C. Laserna Street, Kalibo where most poor residents thrived," Durana said.

Because of this findings, the Kalibo Police Station have finalized plans of visiting the residents of C. Laserna Street to conduct information awareness on police concerns.

"The residents reactions are that they surprised to see policemen visited them in a helpful manner. While before, they only saw presence of policemen when somebody will be arrested." Durana said.