THE Philippine National Police Logistics Support Service (PNP-LSS) now boasts of another first: 15 all-female drivers serving police personnel and the general public with a smile all the time.

The 15, all Police Non-Commissioned Officers were congratulated by PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos after they finished their Advanced Proficiency Driving Training under the auspices of the PNP-LSS headed by Brigadier Gen. Mario A. Reyes and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority.

The 15 underwent the advanced drivers’ training in line with efforts of the PNP-LSS to further empower women in their unit and develop their knowledge and skills especially in driving General Dispatch Vehicles (GDVs) which are mostly being utilized to transport police personnel, equipment and relief goods for victims of calamities in different parts of the country, Brig. Gen. Reyes told the Journal Group.

Gen. Carlos commended the PNP-LSS leadership for creating the “pool of all-female PNCO drivers” who will complement the LSS male drivers handling GDVs in areas outside Metro Manila. They will also be tapped as trainers in the projected LSS Training Center which is set to offer driving courses for PNP personnel and other stakeholders.

PNP-GDV drivers have proven their worth in all police ‘search-rescue-relief-and-retrieval’ operations in Metro Manila and other parts of the country in major calamities brought about by killer typhoons, flashfloods, landslides and earthquakes in the past.

The policemen-drivers also drive PNP vehicles to transport people stranded as a result of strikes or the lack of public transport especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.

“Serving people is not only during disaster time but all the time,” said Brig. Gen. Reyes.

Last week, Gen. Carlos led the demilitarization of 6,492 pieces of so-called ‘Beyond Economical Repair’ PNP-owned firearms to prevent the possibility they may be recycled and converted to other deadly weapons.

The destruction ceremonies were held at the headquarters of the PNP -LSS which was visited by the top cop and other key PNP officials led by PNP Comptroller, Major Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. and PNP Logistics chief, Major Gen. Ronaldo E. Olay.

Gen. Carlos recalled that he was also present when former PNP chief, now retired Gen. Debold M. Sinas in early 2021 also led a similar demilitarization program at the PNP-LSS wherein 1,033 BER firearms were destroyed.

“This undertaking clearly demonstrates the primordial accountability of the PNP to ensure that potentially harmful weaponry and weapons-grade instruments will not find their way into the hands of unauthorized individuals and into the arsenal of criminally-inclined persons and terrorist groups,” the PNP chief said.

During his visit, Gen. Carlos commended the PNP-LSS for doing good in its mandate to serve as the ‘lifeline’ of police operations while seeing to it that the supply and maintenance of mission-essential police equipment and other tools will keep functioning.

“I commend the men and women of the PNP LSS, under the leadership of BGen. Mario A. Reyes for ensuring, at all times, the availability of the right and the most sophisticated armaments and equipment for the country’s crime-busting heroes which are indispensible to effectively carry out their duties and for making sure that they get them on time, ever true to your mandate of providing timely logistical support and services to the PNP,” he said.

Gen. Carlos particularly cited the major role being played by the PNP-LSS amid the new normal as well as the natural calamities such as typhoons that regularly hit the country.

“The PNP-LSS has proven its pivotal role of strengthening the PNP efforts in bringing the police closer to the community by providing mobility and other extended services to the community, medical frontliners and other authorized persons outside of residence,” he said citing the police vehicles being dispatched by the unit to ferry stranded commuters.

The PNP chief led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new LSS Motor Pool under the PNP-DPWH Convergence Program CY 2022 and in coordination with the Infrastructure and Facilities Management Division of the PNP Directorate for Logistics and the PNP Engineering Service.

“This prominent symbol of LSS’ modernization project and transformation is attuned to our professional responsibility of providing a conducive work environment for our LSS personnel so that their professional competence can flourish and motivate them to perform effectively and efficiently” he said.

The new LSS Motor Pool is projected to cater to the repair and maintenance of PNP light and heavy vehicles with its newly upgraded tools and equipment. Further, a 77-bed capacity barracks will be built in the same compound to accommodate all maintenance and transportation personnel with basic amenities such as living room, dining area and kitchen, affording them a decent place to rest after returning late sometime until dawn from a mission.

Gen. Carlos also led the formal turnover of one forklift truck and five desktop computers to the PNP-LSS by the NASHE Enterprises.