Aside from personnel of the PNP Women and Children’s Desk, the Police Regional Office (PRO) VI plans to train force multipliers on how to handle incidents involving persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., PRO6 director, came up with the idea since members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs) and village watchmen, or commonly known as “tanod”, are the first responders during incidents.

Cruz believes that with training, they can efficiently address situations involving PWDs.

“Malaki ang naitutulong ng ating mga volunteers sa pulisya at pamayanan. Ang karagdagang kaalaman na ito ay makakatulong din sa kanila upang magampanan ang kanilang mga tungkulin,” he said.

Recently, 50 policewomen completed a four-day training on handling PWDs at Camp Delgado.

Three more batches will be trained in the next few months.

The training focuses on effective communication with PWDs through sign language and identifying special needs and sensitivities of PWDs through empathy and attentiveness to non-verbal cues.

The new graduates are currently designated with the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desks of their respective police stations where the PWD Help Desk will be integrated.

“Inaasahan natin na, by January, mauulit ang training na ito dahil target po natin ang magkaroon ng at least 200 na pulis na may sapat na kaalaman to handle cases involving persons with disability,” Cruz said.

He added that after all the PWD desks personnel will be trained, the training for BPATs and tanods may be set.*