PRO-NIR trains 50 cops for community policing

BACOLOD CITY — Fifty police personnel completed a 15-day Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay training aimed at preparing officers for more responsive and community-centered policing across the Negros Island Region.

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region concluded the training Oct. 16 at Kanlaon Hall, Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City.

The program is intended to prepare personnel for deployment and community immersion in remote, disadvantaged and conflict-affected areas, where police engagement can play a role in addressing local concerns, strengthening public trust and supporting peace and security.

During the training, participants studied community-oriented policing, crime prevention, conflict resolution, peacebuilding and partnership-building, with emphasis on understanding local concerns and working more closely with barangay officials, local governments and residents.

PRO-NIR said the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay, or R-PSB, program goes beyond maintaining police visibility by emphasizing regular engagement, mutual trust and a deeper understanding of the communities officers are assigned to serve.

Through sustained coordination with local stakeholders, trained personnel are expected to help identify community concerns, support appropriate interventions and encourage residents to participate in maintaining peace and order.

Police Brig. Gen. Rudecindo L. Reales, PRO-NIR regional director, said officers assigned under the program must build relationships with residents rather than simply maintain a visible police presence.

“Our R-PSB personnel must be more than a visible presence in the barangays. They must be trusted partners who listen, act, and serve with genuine commitment. Through their dedication and meaningful engagement, we can build stronger community partnerships and ensure that every barangay feels the positive impact of responsive and people-centered policing,” Reales said.

The closing ceremony was led on behalf of Reales by Police Col. Simeon L. Gane Jr., chief of the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division.

Also present were Police Lt. Col. Robert E. Agda, deputy chief of RCADD; Police Lt. Col. Gaylord P. Tamayo, acting chief of the Regional Education and Training Division; and Police Lt. Col. Gerald P. Gamboa, officer-in-charge of the Regional Special Training Unit-NIR.

Training participants and other PRO-NIR personnel also attended the culmination ceremony.

PRO-NIR said graduates are expected to apply what they learned through disciplined, responsive and people-centered service once deployed to their respective communities.

The regional police office said closer relationships between police personnel and residents are intended to strengthen public trust and contribute to safer and more peaceful barangays across Negros Island Region.

The program forms part of PRO-NIR’s broader community-engagement approach, which seeks to bring police services closer to residents through stronger partnerships and responses tailored to local needs.