THE METROPOLITAN Davao Police Task Force (MDPTF) was launched at the Police Regional Office XI headquarters last Friday.
Meanwhile, an additional 175 personnel were deployed to the Davao City Police Office during the same ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, the director of PRO XI, spearheaded the launching and send-off ceremony for the 175 personnel. Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who represented Mayor Sara Duterte, was the event’s guest of honor.
The MDPTF is an interim unit in preparation for its eventual transition into the Metropolitan Davao Police Office, which will cater to the needs of public concerns on peace and security and traffic management within the areas covered by Metropolitan Davao.
The MDPTF is composed of police units from the Davao City, Tagum City, Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal, Municipality of Carmen, Davao Del Norte, Digos City, and Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur.
It will be under the operational supervision of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA). The MDDA is seen to craft a single direction to develop the coastal areas along the Davao Gulf. The Regional Development Council has created a committee, headed by Mayor Sara Duterte, to draft the proposal for the creation of the authority.
The MDDA will have representatives from Davao City, Digos City and Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur, Panabo and Tagum Cities, and Carmen town in Davao del Norte. The body will draft plans “for waste disposal, traffic, infrastructure, security and disaster resiliency, among others, citing a provision of the Philippine Development Plan that recommends the creation of metropolitan areas in Manila, Cebu and Davao.”
During the activity, Escobal turned over the MDPTF Flag to its new commander, Col. Edgar Alan Okub, the deputy regional director for operations for PRO XI.
In her message, the mayor congratulated the men and women of PRO XI for launching the task force. She sees the need for a special police force to handle inter-LGU security threats encompassing the Metropolitan Davao area.
The launching of MDP TF will help in strengthening the capacity of the local police force while preparing for the eventual activation of the Metropolitan Davao Police Office.
The 175 personnel will fill the three newly activated police stations in Davao City–Mandug Police Station (PS 13), Ecoland Police Station (PS 15), and Baliok Police Station (PS 17). With MindaNews
