NEWS
[ DATELINE: LEGAZPI ] NAPOLCOM Office in Pili?
By Atty. Franco Fermin Berja Avila
Chairman, Police Regional Appellate Board 5 National Police Commission

For National Police Commission Region 5 personnel, the new year started with the use of new office space located at 3th and 4th Floors of ANST Buiding II, corner Rizal Street and Rivera Street, Old Albay District, Legazpi City. One may easily find our new office because it is just situated beside Divine Word College of Legazpi and in front of the Albay Provincial Capitol in the heart of Albay District. The occupancy of the new building is not the result of any whimsical thinking but by reason of necessity having in mind the primordial welfare and best interest of the employees. The location of the old and former office of the Napolcom in Barangay Rawis, Legazpi City is prone to calamity and other natural disasters as it is situated just few meters along the shoreline of Albay Gulf. One may think that putting up an office near a sea is hazardous to one’s health though, admittedly, sea breeze is good to children’s health, not to mention the scenic view which is comparable to beautiful tourist spots in the country. It is hazardous in the sense that, there are more disadvantages rather than advantages when an office, a government office, in particular, is built near the sea shore.

Based on personal experience, when an office is located in a region frequently visited by strong typhoons and such office is built near a sea shore, chances are the said office might and will be badly hit by natural disasters like typhoons. It is on this score that I humbly suggest that a new government building must be in a much safer place but not near the sea. I am not saying that the other government offices situated in Barangay Rawis in Legazpi City and badly affected by recent typhoons must transfer their offices to another province which is not near the sea shore as this will result to dislocation of the employees from their respective families and residences, among others. I just fervently hope that our concerned government executives may consider this suggestion.

In the recent staff meeting presided by our Acting Regional Director, Pedro T. Magannon, he disclosed to us the sensitive issue of using the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) fund allotted for the creation of offices in the regions which have no permanently-owned Napolcom building. When his turn was called, he stated that since Napolcom in Region 5 has no more building of its own and he requested that one must be established for the region but this time in the Municipality of Pili, the capital town of the Province of Camarines Sur, probably inside the capitol compound.

Going back to our new office located in Albay District, the Office of the Regional Director, Assistant Regional Director and the Administrative Services Division are located in the 31t1 Floor. The 4th Floor houses the Office of the Police Regional Appellate Board and the technical Services Division. The Conference Room is also located in the said floor. Those who wish to transact with us but their transactions do not require to personally come to Albay, may do their business dealings with our Napolcom provincial Officers (PO’s) in their respective provinces. For the provinces of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes, Atty. Hector Laganson. For the province of Camarines Sur, our offi cer-in-charge is Mrs. Erlinda Cabanela, she is also the Assistant Technical Services Division Chief, in concurrent capacity. For the provinces of Albay and Masbate, Atty. Elpidio Bober is the top Napolcom officer while Ms. Shirley Aguilar, is the newly designated officer-in charge for the province of Sorsogon. If you have time, please visit our website at www.napolcom.gov.ph.