Mindanaotoday.com | DILG chief lauds Oro mayor for his ‘foresight’
By: Jigger Jerusalem
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – For offering the former post office compound as the site of the proposed police station 1 (PS1) building, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary has commended Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy for his “foresight” by donating a piece of prime lot in the heart of the city to the police.
Lawyer Benjamin Abalos Jr., secretary of the DILG, said Uy has felt the pulse of the people when he decided that the post office site, destroyed by fire some years back, be used as a police facility instead.
“The performing mayor of Cagayan de Oro… Dama niya ang pulso ng tao. And if there is one thing na madama mo, alam mo kung ano ang kailangan ng lugar mo,” Abalos told the crowd who witnessed the groundbreaking of the three-story PS1 building Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 3, 2022.
The secretary said he was shocked to learn that the proposed three-story PS1 site is located in the city’s business district where real property rates are among the highest in Cagayan de Oro.
“And for him to be offering to the Philippine National Police this property, he knows, in his heart, what is the utmost need, which is peace and order. There will be less economic activity, or it will die, if there is so much crime,” Abalos said.
“Kaya ang galing ni Mayor Klarex, kaagad sa sentro nitong Divisoria itatayo itong Police Station no. 1. And that is what we call ladies and gentlemen: foresight,” he added.
For his part, Uy, who is more popularly known to Kagaya-nons as “Klarex,” said that peace and order are essential in maintaining a livable city.
“Admittedly, the local government has been facing many challenges when I assumed office as mayor,” the mayor said in his speech.
He said the city has just been slowly recovering from the economic hardships brought by the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with the economic crisis resulting in skyrocketing fuel prices.
“My ultimate goal as steward of the local government is to bring the government closer to the people, especially on security and safety of lives, properties and people’s livelihood,” Uy said.
He said at present the city government has no available funds for the building as its counterpart is the lot, while the DILG will spend for the building’s construction.
“Sec. Abalos has said he might allocate funding [for the PS1], if there are some left from the DILG budget,” Uy said in an interview, adding the secretary still has around P100 million for the construction of 10 police precincts nationwide and the PS1 might be included.
He said it is his hope that the construction of PS1 will be started as soon as possible. “Hopefully, the earlier the better.”
Uy added the city government is also planning on building another police precinct at the uptown area.
In response, Col. Aaron Mandia, the city police director, said “the CDO PS1 will provide convenience and a good working environment to our policemen and will improve their services to the public. In return, we assure that COCPO, particularly PS1, will be more committed to providing quality public service.”
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