As part of its primary mandate of serving and protecting the people, the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed its social responsibility side, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, by launching its BARANGAYanihan (Bayanihan sa Barangay) Help and Food Bank program.
PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar led the launching of the program today, May 14, at Camp BGen Rafael T Crame in Quezon City, which was also conducted simultaneously on all police regional offices nationwide.
Eleazar said that the BARANGAYanihan exemplifies the true spirit of the Filipinos who would naturally look after each other in times of disasters and in times of achieving a goal that would collectively benefit them.
He also added that this project is also important in these times when many Filipinos lost their jobs and livelihood as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the true character and unveiled who we truly are as Filipinos—nagtutulungan, may puso at may malasakit sa kapwa natin sa panahon ng kagipitan,” Eleazar said.
“Inaasahan ko na ang lahat ng kapulisan ay makikiisa at isasa-puso ang proyektong Barangayanihan dahil ito ang tunay na kahulugan ng PNP motto na ‘To Serve and Protect’, at ito ang tunay na diwa ng salitang Pilipino,” he added.
The BARANGAYanihan covers all existing police-community relations support activities as it aims at boosting the Bayanihan spirit among PNP and the people in the community.
The project aims to intensify the PNP’s various forms of assistance that strategically situate immediate implementation in barangays, being the basic political unit of the society and the base of the grassroots citizenry. This will be implemented in different forms, from relief operations, feeding programs, civic activities, etc., all of which are not new to the organization.
Likewise, the BARANGAYanihan further strengthens the partnership and collaboration between the police and partner stakeholders. It creates awareness and amplifies the community affairs and development component in policing and forge more robust ties with the grassroots constituents, gaining their trust and willingness to work with the PNP.
Eleazar pointed out that BARANGAYanihan has long been practiced by the PNP through the police-community relations programs such as Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko, Community Feeding Program, Adopt-a-Family Program, PNP Food Bank and other community support services that are existing and implemented in the different police regional and [rovincial offices down to police stations.
“For years, the PNP has consistently recognized the participation of the community in fulfilling its duties at the frontlines. Sa pamamagitan ng programang ito, mas mapapalawak at mapapagtibay ang kooperasyon ng ating mga kababayan sa komunidad upang labanan ang Covid-19, gayundin ang krimen, terorismo at droga,” Eleazar explained.
(Photo credit: PNP-PIO)