Thirty new police patrol cars were turned over to their recipients following a blessing and turnover ceremony held at the Police Regional Office Western Visayas (PRO6) headquarters here on Tuesday.

“These are significant considering that they are brand new PNP vehicles. They can help in our checkpoints, police response and other activities considering that mobility is very important,” PRO 6 spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel M. Solis said in an interview on Wednesday.

The new single cab 4×2 Toyota Hi-lux vehicles were part of the Capability Enhancement Program of the Philippine National Police.

The recipients were chosen by the national headquarters, including 10 units for the Bacolod City Police Office; six units for the Iloilo City Police Office, four units for the Iloilo Police Provincial Police Office, three units each for the Antique Police Provincial Office and Capiz Police Provincial Office, and two units each for the Aklan Police Provincial Police Office and the Guimaras Police Provincial Office.

“Almost all police stations in Western Visayas have their own patrol vehicles and these will just be additional vehicles to augment to our mobility assets,” Solis added.

He said PRO6 Director Police Brig. Gen. Flynn E. Dongbo who led the blessing and turnover advised the receiving units to take good care of their new vehicles.

Meanwhile, Dongbo said PRO6 has directed unit commanders to deploy policemen in churches, markets, and other strategic areas in line with the Simbang Gabi that will start on December 16 and for the rest of the holiday.

“Police units should maximize the conduct of visibility patrols based on the assessment of their respective areas of responsibility in consideration of their crime situation,” he said. (PNA)