PNP-Negros conducts re-training on databanking against trafficking

Jun 29, 2008 at 08:00 AM

from The Sunday Times

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Occidental is implementing a local anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) databanking re-training program and is making use of local resources to conduct it.

The conduct of a re-training on TIP databanking is challenging as the agency has budgeting priorities and the usual fund limitations. However, the PNP Negros Occidental showed how low- or no-cost activities could be done for real with a little imagination.

PO3 Helen Laciperos helped organize it while still fresh from a two-day US DOS/American Center-assisted TIP databanking training on April 1 to 2 conducted in Cebu City.

With barely P10,000 fund, but loads of patience and dedication, PNP Negros Occidental carried out hands-on re-training in six batches of four to six persons per batch.

Every session recalled and re-echoed every detail of the two-day trainers’ training on the CFO/Napolcom/US DOS/Solidarity Center STEER Project-developed Philippine Information System on Trafficking (Phil-IST) Laciperos attended.

“We only had one computer during the training, so what I did was first present and explain step-by-step every detail of the system. Afterwards, every trainee had a chance to explore the system and to input data. The discussion and individual hands-on session were time consuming; that’s why we had [the training] clustered, with four to six persons per batch,” Police Officer 3 Laciperos recalled.

Never running out of creative ideas, PNP Negros Occidental, collaborated with the Cedar Institute of Technology, Cadiz City, for free use of computers during the last session in May 2008. This time, each participant was allowed to experience real-time lecture and hands-on sessions.

“We are grateful for the assistance of the Cedar Institute. This time, it was easier to explain the system because the participants got to follow the lecture and execute the process in individual computers. They even had more time during the hands-on session,” a grateful Laciperos remarked.

The chiefs and personnel of the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPDs) from 31 city/municipal police stations participated enthusiastically.

PNP Negros made it through the first part of the databanking process. Police Chief Inspector Regidor Alvarado says the bigger challenge is yet to come. “We had a good start; there’s no doubt about that. Installing the system in every police station, encoding data and consolidating reports will be an even greater challenge.”

PNP Negros Occidental is part of the Negros Anti-Trafficking Community Network working with the STEER Project. The databanking re-training was part of the efforts to jumpstart the process of building the Philippine Information System on Trafficking developed by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, National Police Commission, US DOS and the Solidarity Center’s STEER Project-developed among the police in the province.

The information system will provide data on types of trafficking offenses/violations, victims and offenders, gauge the extent of trafficking in different areas, among other things, and provide a basis for government and private sector proactive and responsive programs against trafficking and for services to trafficking victims-survivors.

Last Updated ( Apr 24, 2010 at 11:27 AM )