HE’S really too young to retire at the age of 56 on Tuesday but Philippine National National Police chief, General Archie Gamboa indeed will be leaving an indelible mark in the force with his many transformative programs, one of them the well-recognized‘Pensioner Ko, Sagot Ko’ or PKSK program.
Judging from so-many positive feedbacks from the police force, retired officers and men in particular, the PKSK program has become a major hit after it was given an imprimatur by Gen. Gamboa who ordered all 17 Police Regional Offices to ensure its full implementation in their areas.
I learned that the retiring PNP chief, with the able support of PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Pikoy Cascolan, PNP Chief Directorial Staff, Lt. Gen. Cesar Binag and PNP Director for Personnel and Records Management, Major Gen. Rey Biay saw to it that the program will be in full-blast.
Indeed, the PKSK program of the Police Retirement and Benefit Services Administration or PRBS headed by Colonel Ato Bisnar has gotten all the support it can have from the PNP leadership to effectively carry out Gen. Gamboa’s directive. Admit it or not, without the imprimatur of the outgoing PNP chief, the PKSK program would just be a ‘piece of paper.’
However, with Lt. Generals Cascolan and Binag and Maj. Gen. Biay doing their best to ensure compliance of all concerned police units to the Camp Crame directive, the program has started really strong.
It is not an easy job for the PNP I will tell you. Last Thursday, I personally saw dozens of rookie policemen sorting out tons of papers of the retirees already accounted for by PNP units in Luzon and Visayas regions. It’s a herculean task since the papers should be scanned and saved in the computer.
The PNP is using modern technology to digitize its pensioners’ files and ensure there won’t be any ‘ghost retirees and ghost pensioners’ in the force. I expect the next PNP chief to ensure the complete realization of the PKSK program to really preserve the integrity of the multi-billion police retirement system.
Early this year, Gen. Gamboa ordered the launching of the PNP” Oplan Bilang to account for all pensioners nationwide. He followed it up with the creation of so-called PNP ‘track-care teams’ who were able to reach out to tens of thousands of pensioners to update and collect their records despite the pandemic.
The PNP-PRBS last February 26 launched its ‘Oplan Bilang’ with the support of all 17 PNP regional directors in the country. The program aimed to account, update and collect the biometrics of police pensioners nationwide earning it kudos from police retirees nationwide. Gen. Gamboa also wanted to protect the pensioners who belong to the most ‘at-risk and vulnerable’ age groups by seeing to it that men in uniform will be visiting them in their houses.
The project is a hit. Many retired policemen visited by uniformed policemen in their houses now can really brag to their neighbors that the PNP still care for them. Besides, a retired cop who is being visited by uniformed men and asking him how he or she is doing gets a different ‘high’ and self-esteem they really deserve.
The PKSK program also promotes real camaraderie between active and retired police officers and men. This is true because retired policemen sometimes feel they have been neglected by the PNP leadership despite giving the best of their years to help ‘serve and protect’ the public.
Now, the program sees to it that there will be a ‘buddy system’ which includes the matching and pairing of an Active Personnel Buddy to a Pensioner-Buddy; the Initial Wellness Check and Visitation of the Pensioner; and Quarterly Wellness Check and Visitation.
Policemen with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel down to Patrolman/Patrolwoman are involved in the program to ensure that over 92,000 PNP pensioners will be fully accounted for and their biometrics and pictures taken, whether they are here or abroad.
Many retirees have lauded the program. Retired Superintendent Antonio Carbajal thanked the PNP Chief for initiating a better ‘buddy-buddy system’ that looks after the welfare and status of the retirees. On the other hand, retired Police Senior Inspector Carlito Tumamao described the PKSK program as one of the best PNP programs to help retirees specifically the senior citizens and those with disabilities and who can’t travel without the assistance of another person.
PNP Academy Lakan Retirees Association president , retired Brigadier Gen. Pedro Bulaong said it was a ‘very laudable project which will help PNP retirees very much.’
Other feedbacks from Facebook are the following:
Gents Plas Thank you CPNP Sir GAMBOA for your initiated PKSK Project for the Retirees/Pensioners. A countless Legacy before your retirement too. God bless you and keep strong and healthy Sir;
Enrique Jiloma Thank You CPNP for helping the retirees may the Lord give you long life and. Good health; Oscar Deloria Thank you very much to the program PKSK of CPNP ,IT’s a big help for the pensioner who can’t able to go out for updating due to pandemic.
D.A. Plaza thats really a very good legacy, keep up the good work PNP Chief Gen; Myrna Franada – Oblero God bless you all for your services and efforts to serve your country men. God bless; Nenen Lagonero A big thanks to the PKSK project of our PNPs,Stay Safe and GOD BLESS u all…; Fel Litdog God bless you Keep up the good work. Thank you very much, sir; Rumiuswa Rhis My snappy salute to CPNP=n We will never forget you Sird’GOD BLESS YOU =O”
