NLEX Corporation — in collaboration with the Philippine National Police Region 3 and Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) — initiated Barangay Security Watch, a skills enhancement training that aims to capacitate barangay police and officials with knowledge and skills in maintaining peace and order in their area of responsibility.
“The Barangay Security Watch is NLEX’s latest initiative under our Mission Road Safety program. This aims to address juvenile delinquency and maintain peace and order in areas traversed by our expressway. Through this program, we also aim to reduce expressway and other community-related concerns that affect the safety of both our motorists and the residents in our host communities,” said NLEX Corporation’s president and general manager, J. Luigi L. Bautista.
The program includes an assembly of leaders and officials, skills enhancement workshop for the barangay police, and production of road safety campaign materials for the barangays.
Forty LGU representatives and barangay leaders from Mabalacat, Floridablanca, Dinalupihan, and Hermosa attended the Barangay Security Watch assembly at PNP Region 3 Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga. Road safety matters, including possible causes of stoning incidents, were discussed, and action plans to mitigate their occurrence were drafted with the help of the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council (JJWC).
“We appreciate NLEX’s commitment to help their host communities maintain peace and order. Most of all, they are serious in addressing juvenile delinquency, something that is evident in their various programs. They have shown concern for people, especially the youth, by implementing programs aimed at improving their well-being,” said JJWC officer-in-charge for Policy Research and Development Division, Esmeralda H. Distor.
Also as part of the Barangay Security Watch initiative, 80 barangay police also underwent training on the legal implications related to stoning and other torts, self-defense, arresting and handcuffing techniques, citizen’s arrest and warrantless arrest, handling of children at risk (CAR), and children in conflict with the law (CICL), barangay intelligence network, and proper filing of blotter.
PRO3 Chief of Regional Community Affairs and Development Division, PCOL MARITES A. SALVADORA, commended the Barangay Security Watch participants for their eagerness to learn and enhance security in their respective communities. “It’s a good thing that we have free training for our community leaders and policy enforcers. Through this effort by NLEX and the dedication of the participants, we are positive that we will avoid security and community-related concerns soon,” she said.
On the other hand, SK chairman Baron Castro of Brgy. San Ramon, Floridablanca, Pampanga, also expressed his gratitude towards the program and shared his most valuable learning. “Salamat sa pagpapaunawa sa amin ng kahalagahan ng Anti-stoning Ordinance at sa mga posibleng implikasyon nito kung sakaling hindi maisakatuparan. Sisikapin namin na wala ng magiging ganitong insidente sa aming barangay at makakaasa po kayo sa aming patuloy na pakikipagtulungan sa NLEX-SCTEX upang mas mapabuti ang kalagayan ng aming komunidad.”
NLEX consistently commits to promoting road safety awareness through its Mission Road Safety Program. Aside from Barangay Security Watch, seminars for transport organizations are being conducted through its Usapang Driver program, and Kaligtasan Sa Daan (KalSaDa) sessions are being held in NLEX-SCTEX-NLEX Connector host communities for road safety awareness. Additionally, the NLEX Road Traffic Safety Hub and Park in Mabalacat, Pampanga, and the newly released ‘Ang Bida ng Kalsada’ picture book further strengthen the company’s road safety advocacy campaign.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).