Around 500 families affected by the recent oil spill in Naujan town, Oriental Mindoro province received food items on Monday from the Police Regional Office in Mimaropa (PRO 4B) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Personnel from the PRO 4B's Regional Community Affairs and Development Division (RCADD) headed by Lt. Col. Sonia Gaviana and the PAGCOR's Community Relations Services Department assistant vice president Eric Balcos facilitated the distribution of aid at the Mena Valencia Gymnasium in Barangay Poblacion 1 in Naujan. PRO4B chief, Brig. Gen. Joel Doria, said the objective of the activity was to provide assistance to the affected families and alleviate their situation in the aftermath of the oil spill. "We are here to serve and protect the community, and we will continue to do so by working together with our partners and stakeholders. This initiative is in line with the 5-focused agenda of the PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda particularly on community engagement," he said in a statement. Doria thanked PAGCOR for its support in providing assistance to the affected families. "We are grateful to PAGCOR for partnering with us in this endeavor. This distribution of food items is a manifestation of our commitment to serve and protect the community, especially during difficult times," he said. Meanwhile, Doria said the PRO 4B held a one-day Human Rights Seminar in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) MIMAROPA, at the City College of Calapan in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on June 15. The seminar was attended by a total of 79 PNP personnel from the Regional Human Rights Affairs Office, Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 4B, and Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office. Doria said the activity seeks to ensure that PNP personnel become compliant with CHR laws and regulations. "We want to make sure that all our personnel are fully aware and compliant with the human rights laws and regulations, as we are committed to upholding and promoting the rights and welfare of all individuals," said Doria. "This is in support of the 5-point agenda of the Chief particularly on aggressive and honest law enforcement operations that respect human rights, and enhance integrity, which is the foundation of our profession as law enforcers," he added. Khristine Lorraine Cacatian, Training Specialist IV and OIC of Promotion and Advocacy Division, and Joy Estrada, Information Officer III of the division discussed the basic concepts and principles of human rights, state obligations, and CHR mandate, functions, programs, and services. Rasheda Agustin, Attorney IV from the Legal Division of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Mimaropa, emphasized and tackled the importance of human rights-based policing in the PNP. Post-test and open forum sessions were conducted after each topic to assess the participants' knowledge and ensure that the objectives of the program were met. Doria expressed his gratitude to CHR Mimaropa for partnering with PRO 4B in conducting the seminar. "I would like to thank the Commission on Human Rights Mimaropa for partnering with us in this important initiative. We hope that this seminar will help us in our efforts to promote and uphold human rights in all our operations," said Doria.

Source: Philippines News Agency