New Police Station 8 returns to Tangub site

BACOLOD CITY — A new standard-type police station building will soon rise in Barangay Tangub following Friday’s groundbreaking for Police Station 8.

Mayor Greg Gasataya, Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales, director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, and Col. Eugene Rebadomia, director of the Bacolod City Police Office, led the ceremonial laying of the time capsule.

The project is intended to provide police personnel with a better facility and improve the delivery of services to the community.

Rebadomia said a private company donated a 200-square-meter lot for the building at the same site previously occupied by Police Station 8 before it transferred to Barangay Pahanocoy in 2019.

The current site in Pahanocoy is near the barangay hall and gymnasium.

Rebadomia said it took time to secure approval of the building design from Philippine National Police headquarters because of the size and shape of the donated lot.

The project costs PHP 8.9 million and is targeted for completion within seven months, he said.

Once the new police station is completed, Rebadomia said he is considering using the Pahanocoy site as an advance command post to strengthen police presence in the area, depending on an agreement with the barangay council.

Rebadomia said three of the city’s 10 police stations have or will have standard-type PNP buildings, including Police Stations 7 and 9 and the new Police Station 8.

The BCPO earlier proposed establishing three additional police stations on top of the 10 existing stations, particularly in Barangays Banago, Estefania and Vista Alegre.

The proposal was supported by former mayor and now House Deputy Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, who also pushed for modernized police stations in the city.

Barangay Banago is currently under Police Station 3, while Barangays Vista Alegre and Estefania are under Police Stations 7 and 4, respectively.

The proposed additional stations were prompted by population growth and continuing development in the three areas.

In his message, Reales said the project goes beyond constructing a new building because its primary purpose is to improve the quality of service delivered to the public.

He thanked the local government and other partners for supporting the project.

Reales also called on personnel assigned to the station to uphold professionalism, integrity and genuine concern for every citizen seeking police assistance.

“A strong police station is not measured only by the quality of its building, but by the quality of service delivered within its walls,” Reales said.

He also expressed hope for the project’s successful completion and stressed the importance of collective efforts in advancing peace, security and public service.

Once completed, the facility is expected to support police operations and provide personnel with a more conducive working environment.

The new station is also expected to give residents a more accessible facility where they can seek police assistance.