PRO-7 chief eyes eight-hour shift for policemen

Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, new director of the Police regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), speaks with other officials during his arrival honors at Camp Sergio Osmeña last February 7, 2020. CDN Digital photo | Gerard Vincent Francisco

CEBU CITY, Philippines – An eight-hour shift for policemen on duty is being eyed by newly installed Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7) director Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro.

Ferro told reporters that one of his plans as regional director is to study the effectiveness of policemen who will work for eight hours instead of the current 12 hours they are putting in on every shift.

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According to Ferro, he believes the eight-hour, three-shift duty schedule will be beneficial to the police force. He said the “economy” of the work force has to be healthy and strong overall.

“Pag sinobrahan sila at sobrang pagod na sila, hindi na sila magiging effective,” said Ferro.

(If too much work is given to the police they would end up exhausted, they won’t be effective.)

However, Ferro said they will still look into what adjustments they would have to do in terms of the units being understaffed.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Engelbert Soriano, chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said that the effectiveness of the police does not depend on numbers.

“It would be better to have just 20 who are all wide awake rather than having 30 on duty but only 15 awake,” said Soriano.

Soriano said he fully supports the plans of Ferro for the PRO-7 force. /bmjo