• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO) officially inaugurated its newly completed administrative building and grandstand inside Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr., Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City on Wednesday.
The ceremony was led by PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), describing the event as a major milestone in strengthening police infrastructure and enhancing public service delivery.
The building was made possible through the support of the Abang Lingkod Party-list, led by former Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano, and former Bacolod Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya, with allocations totaling more than P34 million.
Complementing the new structure, the grandstand was also constructed in 2022 as part of the PNP Multi-Purpose Center, funded through the provincial government’s Peace and Order Council Fund with a P10.5 million allocation under the leadership of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
In his message, Ibay described the inauguration as a proud and historic moment for the NOcPPO, emphasizing that the new facility symbolizes the collective vision, dedication, and hard work of the police organization and its partners.
“More than a structure, this building reflects the readiness of the newly created region to protect lives, uphold the law, and serve with integrity and professionalism,” Ibay said, highlighting that the facility embodies the trust reposed by the public in the police and their responsibility to safeguard peace and security in Negros Occidental.
COMMEMORATING HISTORY
The inauguration also embodied the rich history of the NOcPPO, which traces its origins to August 1945 in Bacolod City.
Established as the headquarters of the Provincial Military Command, it was initially led by PCol. John Madden of the United States Army and staffed by only three officers and 21 enlisted personnel, with additional attachments from guerrilla units and military police organizations.
Originally situated on a two-hectare site between Capitol Subdivision in Bacolod City, the headquarters was later transferred to a five-hectare property in Sitio Camingawan on May 29, 1974.
The first headquarters building at the new site was constructed in August 1974 during the tenure of then Philippine Constabulary Chief Maj. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, who later became President of the Philippines. The construction was financed through a combination of funds from the Philippine Constabulary, the provincial and city governments of Bacolod, and private sector contributions, totaling P1,677,751.90. The facility was officially inaugurated on April 24, 1975, by then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile.
Over the years, the police complex expanded to include various facilities such as a chapel, guard house, medical and dental dispensary, provincial detention center, officers’ quarters, firing range, helipads, and a multi-purpose center—reflecting the growing role and responsibilities of the provincial police force.
After five decades, the NOcPPO administrative building underwent major reconstruction beginning in 2022, funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2024, and was officially inaugurated this Wednesday.
“As we inaugurate this facility, let us renew our commitment to the people of Negros Occidental—to be steadfast protectors of peace, builders of public trust, and servants of the nation,” Ibay added.*
