By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered newly-appointed Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Superintendent Roderick Minong, to ensure the security of business process outsourcing (BPO) employees, characterizing call center agents as the “crown jewels of the city.”
The mayor requested heightened police visibility in order to preempt robbery incidents, the type of crime where BPO employees are often targeted.
Earlier this month, Leonardia and former BCPO acting director, Police Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, met with representatives of the local call center industry to discuss ways in which to better protect employees.
The former police chief noted, companies were willing to fund fuel expenses for police vehicles in order for them to patrol the streets, along with the use of shuttle buses to transport call center agents instead of public utility vehicles.
Meanwhile, the mayor also asked Minong to prioritize peace and order during the remaining days of the ongoing MassKara Festival, noting everything has to be in order for the expected arrival of President Rodrigo Duterte on October 22./WDJ