IDFI allocates P200T meal allowance for cops
City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) has allocated P200,000 as meal allowance of some 700 law enforcers tasked to maintain peace and order during the forthcoming 2010 Dinagyang Festival.
Treñas said the amount would be channeled to Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director Sr. Supt. Melvin Mongcal beings chair of the committee on peace and order.
Treñas said the funds would be given to the respective chiefs of police and be distributed to the policemen as soon as the foundation released the budget. It was agreed upon that the chiefs of police or every in-charge would give their troops the amount intended to them.
In previous years, the cops as well as those from the Armed Forces of Philippines tasked to maintain peace and order and protect foreign dignitaries and national officials were given food instead of money.
The same practice has been subject of complaint from policemen who said they did not receive enough support from their commanders especially during the two-day highlight of the Dinagyang festival.
In the recent Dinagyang media briefing, Senior Inspector Lourdes Banzuelo, ICPO’s police community relations chief, said they are contemplating of deploying some 700 policemen.
Of the 700 cops, 500 are from the city police. The rest will come from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 and Armed Forces of the Philippines. College students taking up NSTP subjects would also act as force multiplier during the festival.
Banzuelo added that container vans would be situated in close proximity to different judging areas. The container vans would serve as temporary detention cell for unruly and drunk merrymakers.
The use of container vans as momentary cell was the police measure in accommodating the number of drunkards during the festival. The detention cell of precinct 1 is jampacked with drunkards.
The police will also coordinate with owners of kiosks to only sell liquors in cans or in plastic cups. Barbecue sticks are also prohibited during the festival. Bottles and barbecue sticks could be used as weapons, said Banzuelo.
