2,023 Western Visayas cops need driving training

ILOILO CITY — A significant number of police personnel in Western Visayas lack formal training or proficiency in driving four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles.

According to the Police Regional Office 6, around 2,023 of its 7,631 personnel, or about 27 percent, still need instruction in driving four-wheeled vehicles.

Based on a recent PRO-6 assessment, another 897 personnel need motorcycle training.

PRO-6 clarified that the two groups may overlap because some officers may need instruction in both types of vehicles.

The Iloilo City Police Office recorded the lowest proportion of personnel needing driving training.

Of ICPO’s 1,187 personnel, 76, or 6.4 percent, need training in driving four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles.

At the Antique Police Provincial Office, 106 of 1,065 personnel, or 9.95 percent, were identified as needing driving training for four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles.

In the Aklan Police Provincial Office, 423 of 1,320 personnel, or 32.04 percent, need training in driving four-wheeled vehicles.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office recorded 719 of its 2,213 personnel, or 32.48 percent, as needing four-wheeled vehicle training.

In Capiz, 533 of 1,408 police personnel, or about 38 percent, need training in driving four-wheeled vehicles.

The Guimaras Police Provincial Office recorded 166 of its 438 personnel, or 37.89 percent, as needing four-wheeled vehicle training.

Only five personnel from the Guimaras PPO and 55 from the Aklan PPO were identified as needing motorcycle training.

PRO-6 conducted the regionwide assessment of driving skills after Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla called for police personnel to be capable of operating both motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles.

Remulla visited Iloilo City on Sept. 9 to turn over 20 Unified 911 emergency-response motorcycles to Iloilo City and Aklan.

He said fewer than half of the Philippine National Police’s approximately 230,000 personnel know how to drive four-wheeled vehicles.

Around 80 percent of PNP personnel know how to operate motorcycles.

As an immediate measure, PRO-6 Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño ordered remedial driving lessons to ensure police vehicles are fully utilized during patrols and emergencies.

Tuaño clarified that the figures do not mean the identified officers are unable to perform their police duties.

Instead, the assessment identified personnel who still need specific mobility skills that could become critical during patrols, emergencies, deployments, and other police operations.

Tuaño said driving skills are particularly important because Western Visayas already has a Unified 911 satellite command center.

Earlier, Remulla said authorities were considering requiring all PNP applicants to know how to drive both a four-wheeled vehicle and a scooter or motorcycle.