ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has begun regional workshops to assess the feasibility of implementing an eight-hour work shift for police officers in Western Visayas, a major reform initiative aligned with Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III’s push for improved officer welfare and field performance.
Unlike the current 12-hour duty schedule practiced in many stations, the proposed system aims to reduce fatigue, boost morale, and improve overall effectiveness.
The PRO-6 is also considering a strict ban on mobile phone use during duty hours to prevent distractions and address complaints of inattention and unprofessionalism among some personnel.
“The point of this system is to ensure our police personnel do not become exhausted and are able to perform more effectively in their duties,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, spokesperson for PRO-6. “We are looking into how we can further increase police visibility and performance in the field.”
The workshops, which are ongoing across various provincial units, serve as consultations with officers on the ground to identify challenges in adopting the policy across diverse operational settings. While the shift aims to benefit police officers’ health and family life, logistical and manpower requirements remain key concerns.
Solis emphasized that the review is not only about shortening duty hours but also about enforcing discipline and optimizing police presence.
“We have to make sure any changes we adopt will not compromise public safety or stretch our resources thin,” he said.
The PRO-6 initiative forms part of broader reforms under General Torre’s leadership aimed at professionalizing the PNP while improving community trust and internal accountability./PN
