BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
When it rains, it pours for the La Castellana Police Station in Negros Occidental.
Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan turned over yesterday three vehicles and three motorcycles to the La Castellana Police Station, to beef up its mobility in the maintenance of peace and order.
The activity was witnessed by P/Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police director, and P/Col. Romy Palgue, provincial police director of Negros Occidental.
Through the efforts of Mangilimutan, the Gonzaga family also donated 1,000 square meters of their property to be the site for the new police station that will be constructed in Brgy. Robles in the town.
The donated lot is a requirement of the Philippine National Police for it to allocate funds for the construction of new police stations, Miranda said.
Mangilimutan, a former police officer before she entered politics, said the new site of the La Castellana Police Station headquarters is located in an area to be transformed into a “Social Activity Center”, similar to the Panaad Park in Bacolod City, where the command and rescue centers of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management facilities, including the evacuation center, are located.
The lady mayor also announced plans to provide a 1,000 square-meter site for the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Miranda and Palgue lauded Mangilimutan for her support to the town police, adding that this should be emulated by other local chief executives.
Mangilimutan said the municipal government spent almost P3 million for the purchase of a brand new patrol vehicle, a rescue vehicle, three motorcycles, and the repair of the dilapidated patrol vehicle of the La Castellana police.
Miranda, Palgue and Mangilimutan signed the deed of donation for the 1,000-meter lot for the town police, witnessed by Vice Mayor Manuel Vera and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and other town officials.*