THE Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay or R-PSB project of the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) has been recognized by the Philippine National Police leadership for its Good Samaritan efforts to better gain the trust and confidence of the ‘poorest of the poor’ in Southern Mindanao region.

PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar presented a plaque of recognition to the PRO11 headed by Brigadier Gen. Filmore B. Escobal during the 29th founding anniversary of the Police Community Affairs and Development Group in Camp Crame.

The award was given in recognition of the R-PSB’s milestone in gaining the trust of residents living in so-called Geographically Isolated and Disadvantageous Areas in Southern Mindanao which is being taken advantage of by the New People’s Army thru the years.

The PRO11 Regional Community Affairs and Development Division was also given an Outstanding Unit Award for being the Best RCADD nationwide. The award was received by PRO11 Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Colonel Edgar Alan O. Okubo.

The PRO11 RCADD was cited for its initiatives to help the PNP in general sustain and enhance the inclusive peace and development efforts of the national government thru their R-PSB program.

The R-PSB’s ‘Patubig & Pailaw sa Barangay project, effort to build 22 roads in far-flung areas in the region and the conduct of different community outreach activities to help the poor among others were greatly noted by the PNP leadership.

A member of the R-PSB, Patrolman Noel Amor of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 11 also received a special award from Gen. Eleazar for his exemplary deed in teaching children from an indigenous community in Davao del Norte how to read and write.

The cop’s effort prompted NPA guerrillas to shoot and wound him.

Gen. Eleazar said that Good Samaritans in the PNP are growing by leaps and bounds. From helping motorists stuck in Metro Manila traffic with their deflated tires, building roads, schools and artesian projects for poor communities in Mindanao, bringing electricity to poor Cordillerans or simply breastfeeding a hungry baby of another working mother, policemen who are showing good deeds are getting wide attention from the public.

These Good Samaritans from the police force have catch the attention of Gen. Eleazar who had said that indeed, their numbers are really growing by leaps and bounds, or really rapidly increasing or expanding.

He particularly cited the exemplary acts of members of the R-PSB.

In Davao del Sur, members of the R-PSB in Sitio Talambato in Barangay Asbang in Matanao, Davao del Sur were lauded for constructing a day-care center for local residents so that kids no longer needed to travel far to receive their education once the pandemic is over.

Gen. Eleazar pointed out that enrollment in the daycare center also spared the parents from having to spend money for their children’s transportation to school.

Also in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, the local R-PSB donated medals for outstanding students of the Saliducon Daycare Center. The cop took money from their own pockets to buy the medals in appreciation of the hard work and dedication displayed by the students prior to their graduation.

Then there are the members of the Kapalong police force in Davao del Norte who are encouraging the youth to become productive members of their community. The officers helped the teenagers learn making bread and other pastries and establish their own bakery.

In Compostela Valley, R-PSB members raised fund from their own salary to buy wheelchairs for Persons with Disability in their area.

R-PSB men in Sitio Salay in Bgy. Manuel Peralta in Malita, Davao Occidental also led the construction of a footbridge in the area to ensure that residents –particularly children- will have a safer and permanent platform to cross a creek in the village and earn them much easier access to the public market, hospital, schools and their workplaces.

A water reservoir was also turned over by R-PSB members to the Bagobawa ethnic group in Bgy. Catigan and is now providing around 200 families potable water.

Brig. Gen. Escobal launched the R-PSB program in which members of the unit go to far-flung barangays in different parts of Southern Mindanao to fully understand their situation.

Since last year, the PRO11 R-PSB program has resulted in many schools, irrigation and farm-to-road projects and artesian wells and potable water distribution system being built by the police with the assistance of local government units, different government agencies and Good Samaritans to help residents of so-called Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas in the region.

Gen. Eleazar and PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Major Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia presented the awards to the PRO11 officers and men during the 29 anniversary of the PCADG headed by Brig. Gen. Eric E. Noble.