ARTIST RAISES ECO-AWARENESS WITH ‘TRASHION’
With no equipment, higher salaries, police officers have no reason to be corrupt, says PNP chief
Artist Francis Sollano picks up trash and transforms these into fashion. He calls his art “trashion,” a portmantaeu of “trash” and “fashion.” Fusing creativity and environmentalism, Francis has made the rounds of the world fashion circuit, been featured in major cities like Tokyo, London, Paris, New York, Mongolia, Taiwan and Singapore, to name a few. Last month, he graced SM Seaside City Cebu with a mini-exhibition called “SM Seaside Sides with the Seas.” Showcasing trashion headpieces, the exhibit was meant to raise awareness of the city’s beaches and diving coasts, as well as the plastic garbage problem. This is Francis’s first solo exhibition in the Philippines.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa said he has a “very high” expectation on his men in performing their duties and responsibility following the enhancement of their operational capability through the acquisition of over 45,000 brand new equipment.
“We expect them to do their job properly, expect them to be more effective and efficient in the delivery of the basic police services in their respective areas of responsibility and we expect them to respect and observe the rule of law in carrying out their mandates,” he said.
Last Thursday, dela Rosa led the blessing and inauguration of 45,457 brand new equipment procured under the government’s capability enhancement program for 2017.
Among the items procured were police marked vehicles such as ambulance, trucks, motorcycles and mobile patrols, firearms such as machine guns, forensic devices and other equipment which are essential for the government’s fight against terrorism, illegal drugs and criminality in urban or rural areas.
Equipment essential for the rehabilitation in the war-stricken Marawi City were also bought, including forklifts and trucks.
Dela Rosa said the PNP will procure more equipment this year, including body cameras, which are vital for the transparency of anti-illegal drugs operations.
“Flying assets, yan ang pinakamahal, hindi ba? But it is being addressed. This coming March meron kaming twin engine bell helicopter. Mga luma nating mga helicopters na matagal na nakatengga at nakastandby sa hangar dahil hindi pwede gamiting dahil ginawang exhibit sa mga kaso na mga concerned PNP officers na hindi magamit, are beyond economical repair,” he said, adding that five helicopters are expected to arrive before the 2018 ends.
Dela Rosa was referring to the 13 police officials dismissed due to the procurement of two standard Robinson R44 Raven I light police operational helicopters (LPOH) worth P62,672,086.90, and one fully equipped Robinson R44 Raven II LPOH worth P42,312,913.10.
According to the Ombudsman, the choppers were priced and declared as brand new units but investigation showed that they were previously owned by former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
The government has also increased the salary of police officers to a maximum of 100 percent. For 2018, some 76,000 Police Officers 1 who are earning P14,834 each month, will receive 100 percent salary increase.
Other officers will initially get an average of 58.70 percent increase. The rest will be given in the following year.
Dela Rosa said with the salary increase policemen no longer have the reason to be corrupt and dip their hands in illegal activities.