By (PSMS Christopher D Mendoza, PCR PNCO)
In the evening of 24 October 2019, The Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, Inc (PSMBFI) launched its Liter of Light Project at Boracay Shangri-la Resorts and Spa spearheaded by Dir Mario A Avenido, President/CEO; Police General Oscar D Albayalde, Chairman; Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco F Gamboa, Officer In-Charge of the Philippine National Police as Vice Chairman and PGEN Ricardo Marquez (Ret), former PNP Chief.
Police Senior Master Sergeant Christopher Mendoza, Patrolwoman Katrin Mae Neñeria and Patrolwoman Cyndi Tangal from the Police Community Relations Section of Malay PNP joined the PSMBFI Board of Directors together with the personnel of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and PNP Maritime Group in the said launching.
The Liter of Light is an open source design for a low-cost light tube that refracts solar light to provide daytime interior lighting for dwellings with thin roofs. The device is simple; a liter bottle, PVC pipe, a light bulb, a battery, diode, resistor and solar panel connected with each other.
During the launching, the participants experienced how to make a pipe light by assembling the parts wherein the ten fastest participants received gifts from PSMBFI.
On the following day, the assembled Pipe Lights were turned-over and distributed personally to the Boracay Ati community as the chosen beneficiary. Fifty seven households received a pipe light during a simple ceremony. The Ati community entertained the group with the angelic voices of Ati children and their own native dances, PSMBFI is a mutual benefit association which was established in 1997 to provide insurance coverage to the personnel of its thirteen partner agencies, including the PNP, the PCG and the BFP.
The use of plastic bottles in this way to provide indoor lighting from daylight was developed by Alfredo Moser of Brazil. Liter of Light or “Isang Litrong Liwanag” was first launched in the Philippines by Illac Diaz under the My Shelter Foundation in April 2011. In 2017, this has expanded to more than 350,000 bottle lights in over 15 countries with main offices in Philippines, USA, and Colombia.
Project BESST: RELOADED
The Local Government Unit of Malay, under the leadership of Acting Mayor Forlibar Bautista in partnership with Malay PNP and Municipal Local Government Operation Office, conducted a two days orientation on laws and ordinances dubbed as Project BESST: Reloaded held at the conference room of the Hue Hotel on Boracay Island.
Project BESST, or Boracay Enhanced Security Strategy and Tactics, which was implemented in the first quarter of 2019, aimed towards a discipline zone for Boracay Island.
The two days orientation focused on both land and sea laws for Municipal Ordinances. Malay PNP personnel who are manning the thirteen Police Assistance Desks (PADS) along the beach front, and motorcycle patrollers. This will equip the enforcers with the relevant knowledge of the various ordinances they impose, the dos/dont’s during the enforcement, and many other duties that will develop their personality as a law enforcer.
All members of the Malay Auxiliary Police, Beach Guards and Municipal Transportation Regulation Office (MTRO-Malay) and selected personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, Task Group Philippine Army, PNP Maritime Group and DENR Lawin also attended the said orientation.
Marlo Lozada, Local Legislative Staff Officer IV of Malay discussed the local ordinances strategically designed and regulated for various activities along the beach front. These ordinances covered the Phase 1 “Battle of the Front Beach” implementation.
Ryan Tubi of the Municipal Transportation Regulation Office (MTRO-Malay) talked on the Transportation/Traffic Ordinances. These ordinances belong to the Phase 2 of implementation tagged as the Battle of Main Road. Malay PNP, MTRO and MAP Enforcers with the support of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will intensify the enforcement of land transportation laws and ordinances on the main road of Boracay Island. Among the prohibited acts are vehicles without Permit to Transport, illegal and abandoned vehicle parking on the main road, operation against Habal-habal (motorcycle), truck ban hours for delivery vehicles, and erring drivers who refuse to convey passengers and over charging of their passengers.
Police Lieutenant Ronnel Bayaban, Chief of Operation Section of Malay PNP presented the Introduction of Project BESST Executive Order No. 18 Organizational Structure; Atty Flosemer Chris Gonzales from the Aklan Provincial Prosecutors Office shared the dos and dont’s during the apprehension and proper legal procedures when apprehending a violator; Rechan Casidsid, Tourism Operation Assistant showcased the Municipality of Malay and its Tourism Industry; Mark Delos Reyes, MLGOO of Malay briefly discussed the Code of Ethics in the government; and Joanette Opeda, Forester IV, DENR- CENRO discussed PD 705 (Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines) and other related topics on environmental policies.
An open forum is conducted after the discussion on all topics for further clarification. Examination is also given to the participants particularly on traffic and beach front ordinances to measure their understanding of the said ordinances.
Natividad Bernardino, Chairman Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group (BIARMG) and Police Major Jess P Baylon, OIC Malay PNP challenged the participants to implement the laws and ordinances without fear or favor. As they said, “The law is harsh, but it is the law”.
Bernardino added that there are ordinances that need amendment in order to be aligned harmoniously with the existing policies of the Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group.
