Bicol’s top cop lauds Naga mayor for CeSaR project

By Jason B. Neola

PBGen Andre Perez Dizon, the PRO5 Regional Director, expressed his gratitude to Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion for allocating a parcel of land within the Center for Safety and Resiliency (CeSaR) lot at the Balatas Development Complex for the establishment of the Naga City Police Office (NCPO) headquarters.

The strategic move brings together various government agencies involved in law enforcement and contributes to maintaining peace and order in the city, such as, the Naga City Police Office (NCPO), the headquarters of the local police force responsible for maintaining peace and order in the city; the PNP Forensic Unit/Crime Laboratory, a specialized unit that handles forensic investigations, evidence analysis, and crime scene processing;

The Public Safety Office (PSO), the office tasked with enhancing public safety, traffic management, and emergency response; the Highway Patrol Group, responsible for enforcing traffic laws and ensuring road safety on highways; the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office, the agency in charge of disaster preparedness, response, and risk reduction, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the organization responsible for fire prevention, suppression, and emergency response.

Dizon said Mayor Legacion’s vision to co-locate the police headquarters with other essential offices is commendable. The site is currently undergoing land preparation. Its central location and accessibility make it an ideal hub for government agencies.

NAGA Mayor Nelson S. Legacion (3rd from left), together with PBGen Andre P. Dizon (rightmost), police officers, and city councilors Ramon Melvin Buenaflor, a retired police general and former Police Regional Office 5 director, and Joselito S.A. del Rosario, PhD., conducting an ocular inspection at the site where the CeSaR building will soon rise. RAMIL HERRERA PHOTO

The ambitious project, known as the Center for Safety and Resiliency (CeSaR), has been allocated with P400 million for site development and building construction. The CeSaR building will be equipped with state-of-the-art communication devices and is scheduled to begin construction in July of this year.

Initially, the project received a budget allocation of P145 million from the General Appropriation Act of the national government.

As part of its adopt-a-city program, SM City Naga has committed P30 million for the procurement of modern gadgets and devices to enhance the building’s technological capabilities.

PBGen Dizon hopes that the Philippine National Police will secure the necessary funding for the construction of the NCPO headquarters on the donated lot of the city.

Col. Erwin Rebellon, the NCPO city director, also expressed gratitude to the mayor for his unwavering support and concern for the police force.

Rebellon’s insight highlights the significance of the site where various law enforcement agencies will co-locate their headquarters. He said that the arrangement fosters efficient collaboration among these agencies, leading to a more systematic and prompt response to incidents requiring law enforcement action.

The proposal to invite the police regional director to establish a satellite office at CeSaR is also seen as a positive step by the city police chief. Such proximity would enhance coordination and facilitate effective decision-making in maintaining peace and security.