In Soccsksargen, hundreds aspire to join police force

ASPIRANTS Aspiring cops queue under the heat of the sun during the Philippine National Police entrance examinations in Koronadal City on July 31. —BONG SARMIENTO

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Philippines — Despite the strict health protocols imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of young men and women flocked to a public school here on Saturday for a chance to join the police force, officials from the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said on Monday.

At least 700 young men and women in Region 12, or the area covering South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City (Soccsksargen), braved the long queue and the scorching sun to take the entrance test that would give them entry to the Philippine National Police, said Napolcom Regional Director Rodel Calo.

He said another 625 PNP members also took the examinations for promotions on Sunday.

Brian Bingil, Napolcom Soccsksargen acting information officer, said the doubling of the salary rate of police personnel implemented in 2018 had attracted more men and women to join the PNP. “It appears that many young Filipinos want to join the police force because of the high starting salary,” Bingil told the Inquirer.

The 100-percent increase in the salary of entry-level PNP members took effect on Jan. 1, 2018. This doubled the monthly base pay of the lowest ranked noncommissioned officer (patrolman) to P29,668 from only P14,834 before the raise was implemented. The lowest ranked commissioned officer (lieutenant) gets P49,528 in monthly base pay, Bingil said.

“Aside from salary, one of the reasons [why many wanted to become policemen] perhaps is because the PNP is hiring en masse while other government agencies are hiring only on a ‘per vacancy’ basis,” Bingil said.

Bingil said the minimum health standard and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were “strictly” imposed during the two-day examinations.

The Napolcom eligibility examination was given to fresh college graduates or those without civil service eligibility or licenses from the Professional Regulatory Commission. The successful examinees can apply for the PNP recruitment next year.

For this year, the Napolcom announced that 17,314 rookie policemen and women would be hired by the PNP to beef up its forces across the country.

—BONG SARMIENTO