ILOILO CITY – Guimaras was the first province in Western Visayas to achieve 100 percent compliance with Project TALA (Tracking, Accounting and Lawful Disposition of Firearms with Expired Registration), an initiative of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6).
Project TALA is the regional implementation of the Philippine National Police’s nationwide Accounting and Disposition of Firearms with Expired Registration (ADFER) campaign. It aims to locate firearm owners, verify the status of their weapons and facilitate appropriate legal action based on the circumstances of each case.
A total of 172 firearms were accounted for in Guimaras, including seven surrendered and 165 deposited at various police units in the province. These were presented during a ceremony at the Guimaras Police Provincial Office headquarters Friday.
PRO-6 Director Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said Guimaras has consistently supported PNP programs, having also been the first province to comply with the Restrict, Track, Turn-in (RTT) 3389 campaign.
“Project TALA is the second aspect of our campaign against loose firearms. First is the RTT 3389 for loose firearms which are unlicensed from the very start. Project TALA is for firearms with unrenewed licenses. Guimaras is the first to comply,” he said during a news conference.
Across Western Visayas, PRO-6 has identified 741 firearms covered by the Project TALA campaign.
Meanwhile, the Guimaras Police Provincial Office was also the first police unit in the region to train personnel in advanced driving skills through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Twenty-five police personnel graduated from the Driving (Passenger Bus/Straight Truck) National Certificate III program under TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program. The training was conducted by Guimaras Skills Academy Corp.
The program covered driving competencies, road safety awareness, defensive driving techniques and responsible driving practices.
Tuaño said the graduates are expected to support not only police transportation requirements but also government response operations, including preparations for the El Niño phenomenon.
“This is the proactive approach of the Western Visayas PNP with the help of our local leaders and TESDA,” he said.
