Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) personnel gathered at their camp last Wednesday after Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) officials arrived to conduct body mass index (BMI) validations for police officers. BCPO spokesperson, Police Lt. Colonel Ariel Pico, said the PRO-6 team, led by Police Lt. Colonel Lavis Camdas, conducted the random validations.
Pico said some police officers were deemed “obese” and were directed to step up their weight loss program in order to achieve Philippine National Police (PNP) standards.
Earlier, PRO-6 director, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, ordered police directors across the region to submit a list of officers who are considered obese and overweight and encouraged them to exercise in order to meet the order made by PNP chief, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa.
Police personnel must attain a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is normal range.
In order to address the obesity issue, the BCPO introduced several physical fitness programs, including Zumba every Tuesday and Thursday. Pico added, the Zumba program is also beneficial to personnel with high blood pressure and diabetes, along with those older in age.
“Obese and overweight police officers who fail to meet the standard BMI will be denied schooling and will not be promoted,” the regional director explained in his earlier statement./DGB, WDJ