A total of 19 children of Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) personnel joined the first day of class at the police office’s Tanglaw Lahi Day Care Center on Friday.
The center, intended for kids aged 6 years and below, aims to provide a safe space for kids while their parents perform their duties and instill on them the values of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“We wanted to impart to them the values of the police at a very early age so they will grow up to be responsible citizens,” PPPO Director Col. Jeff Fanged, who noted the importance of good foundation for children, said in an interview.
Fanged said the center would also boost the good relationship between the Pangasinan Police and the community as the plan is to accommodate later on the kids of families residing near the camp.
“The facility itself was a product of community-police partnership since it was funded through fundraising activities of the police and contributions of individuals,” he said.
Fanged said four police personnel with a background in teaching were trained by the Department of Education (DepEd) on how to handle the learners. They will take turns supervising the kids from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.
Staff Sgt. Mark Meneses, who has a four-year-old child, said they are grateful for the establishment of the center.
“For us uniformed personnel who have limited time to look after our children, we don’t have to hire babysitters since we can just bring them here. Instead of my child just playing at home, here she gets to interact with other children while also learning,” he said. (PNA)
