As the first note of the Philippine National Anthem pitched in, so was the formal start of the 32nd Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG) Anniversary celebration on the 16th of August 2024 at the Bulwagang Lapulapu, Camp BGen Rafael T Crame, Quezon City. This momentous occasion was graced by PLtGen Michael John F Dubria, The Acting Deputy Chief, PNP for Operations, whose words echo in the attendees’ minds as to the significance of this unit as the ‘mouthpiece’ of the organization.
“For every endeavor that is being undertaken by PNP, we need the public to know. If you look at the public in their foreheads, there stamped on in the question mark – What is the PNP doing? Many do not know what PNP are really doing and that where PCADG and RPCADUs come in,” PLtGen Dubria emphasized.
This year’s 32nd PCADG Anniversary theme: “Ugnayang Pulisya at Sambayanan, Hatid ay Ligtas at Maunlad na Lipunan para sa Bagong Pilipinas” highlights the need to strengthen active partnerships between the police force and the community to achieve a safer, and more progressive Bagong Pilipinas.
Truly, PCADG has a vital role in not only bringing PNP closer to the people through well-meaning, high impact community activities, but also in projecting the good image of the organization, which has long been the pursuit of every PNP personnel. No wonder, in the quest of intensifying police and community partnerships, the Police Community Affairs and Development Group stands firm in upholding its mandate to address crime, public safety and development issues in the community. Worth-mentioning, among the National Support Units, PCADG is the only unit tasked at strategizing and innovating all possible means to nurture good relations with the community, at being the heart and soul of policing. When PNP is able to deliver its services efficiently and effectively, there will be greater trust in the police organization by the community, which is indispensable in the pursuit of crime prevention and crime solution.
Such significance was then highlighted by the head of the Unit, PBGen Restituto B Arcangel, PCADG Director, as he welcomed all guests, awardees, and PCADG personnel who attended the annual celebration. Among the key guests who warmly granted the invitation included MGen Ramon P Zagala PA, Commander CRSAFP, PBGen Ramil Montilla, Deputy Director for Police-Community Relations, and Ret. PLtGen Rhodel O Sermonia & Ret PCSupt Joel R Goltiao, former PCADG Directors.
The nomenclature Police Community Relations (PCR) evolved from 2002, referring to an element of the Philippine policing contained in the PCR Master Plan crafted rising the two-pronged strategy of community policing – the Santinig, providing policies and guidelines relative to the information and communication strategy; and the Sambayan, focusing on community organizing and mobilization.
Santinig and Sambayan were developed for a defined police-community relations, and facilitate collaboration relative to the promotion of peace and order, and in ensuring public safety. The two-pronged strategy was amplified and strengthened by the concept of neighboring Asian Countries like Japan and Singapore known as the Community-Oriented Policing System (COPS) which was later institutionalized as Community and Service-Oriented Policing (CSOP) System aiming to empower PNP as a community and service-oriented agency.
With the vast changing times, the Philippine policing system has to inevitably evolve and adapt with the burgeoning technological advancement. This gave birth to the new era of community policing transforming the former PCR’s two-pronged strategy into a more logical, revolutionized and consistent strategy guided by three-dimensional tools – Information Development Operation (IDO); Public Information (PI); and Community Affairs and Development (CAD). The new face of PCR emerged and was then transformed into Police Community Affairs and Development (PCAD) with its Master Plan “Tagataguyod” through PNP Memorandum Circular Number 2019-046.
The three dimensions of the Master Plan “Tagataguyod” aim to secure the community against the forces that disrupt public safety and security, such as crime, terrorism, insurgency and other forms of hostilities. The Public Information and Community Affairs and Development dimensions are to inform, influence and engage, while the Information Development Operations employs approaches to inform and influence.
Various platforms or appropriate mediums are utilized by this Group, in collaboration with the Regional Police Community Affairs and Development Units (RPCADUs), to amplify validated, accurate, and timely PNP narratives, for television, radio, internet, messaging, and print. Information disseminated aims not only to inform but purposively to encourage the community to actively participate in the information chain that reduces fear and eliminates the prevalence of crime.
“Through PCADG and RPCADUs, and the TV programs that we all initiated, including the P@US, SNAA, Ireport mo kay Tsip, at PNN – these are our vehicles to reach out to the people. You have to inform, influence, and engage,” PLtGen Dubria noted.
Delightedly, said Keynote Speaker applauded the combined efforts of the unit and RPCADUs in strengthening community relations as a promising solid policing strategy in creating a positive image of the organization. “I applaud the people from RPCADUs and PCADG for strategically thinking what’s good for PNP, and I salute you all,” PLtGen Dubria said.
Meanwhile, the celebration will not be particularly memorable without putting the deserving personnel center stage to spotlight their commendable efforts to the Group. Deserving individual awardees for this year’s anniversary include: PCol Joel T Ada, Best Senior PCO for Administration; PCol Efren L Fernandez II, Best Senior PCO for Operations; PLtCol Lorvinn A Layugan, Best Junior PCO for Administration; PCpt Nomer B Macaraig, Best Junior PCO for Operations; PSMS Vanessa C Villanos, Best Senior PNCO for Administration; PCMS Janice C Arenas, Best Senior PNCO for Operations; PSSg Rey Boy Abrea, Best Junior PNCO for Administration; PSSg Mercolito P Lovendino Jr., Best Junior PNCO for Operations; and NUP Selah Marie L Sancho as the Best NUP of the Year. Top three best performing Regional Police Community Affairs and Development Units (RPCADUs) were also given due awards, namely: RPCADU 3 as the top performing unit, followed by RPCADU 5, then RPCADUs 7 and 4A as the top three units. Finally, special awards were also given to PEMS Jonathan De Leon as a Loyalty Awardee; USec. Gilberto DC Cruz (PAOCC), Ms. Evelyn D. Barz, Mr. Elizier C Bongabong (PNP KA-TAGUYOD), Mr. Samson Ang (TMAX Riders Club Phils. Inc.) and Mr. Lazaro James Z. Valencia (VANGUARD) for their esteemed significant contributions to the organization.
Overall, the program concluded smoothly spiced up by an astounding individual performance of Ms. Moira Jecah C Reyes, Online Awitan 2024 Champion, and the sweet serenade of the PCADG singers.
