Bacolod: Forty-seven newly-trained Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (R-PSB) police personnel were deployed to five geographically isolated villages in Negros Island on Wednesday to strengthen grassroots police visibility. They were formed into five teams by the Police Regional Office - Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) after completing a 15-day training earlier this month.

According to Philippines News Agency, the R-PSB initiative is designed to bring the police organization closer to the people by strengthening community partnerships, fostering public trust, and ensuring peace and security at the barangay level. Brig. Gen. Romano Cardi±o, acting Director of PRO-NIR, highlighted these objectives during a send-off ceremony held at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr.

Three of the teams have been assigned to northern Negros Occidental, specifically in Barangay Pinapugasan in Escalante City, Barangay Winaswasan in Calatrava, and Barangay Bug-ang in Toboso. The remaining two teams have reported for duty in Negros Oriental, stationed in Barangay Budlasan in Canlaon City and Barangay Caigangan in Santa Catalina.

The police personnel have been trained to enhance their skills in community engagement, barangay-based policing, crime prevention, and public safety. Their deployment aims to improve grassroots police visibility, foster collaboration with local stakeholders, enhance the delivery of responsive police services, and reinforce efforts in maintaining peace, order, and public safety within their respective communities, according to PRO-NIR.

This group of 47 police personnel represents the second batch of R-PSB deployment by PRO-NIR. The initial deployment involved 50 police personnel dispatched to six remote barangays in January. Personnel from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office were assigned to Oringao, Kabankalan City, while those from the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office were sent to Barras in Mabinay town and Tayawan in Bayawan City. Additionally, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion team was deployed to Barangay Marcelo in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, and personnel from the Siquijor Police Provincial Office were sent to Sabang in Siquijor town.