PNP-Eastern Visayas eyes half a million flip flops for poor kids

PALO, Leyte, Oct. 16  --The Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing to distribute half a million flip flops to poor children in Eastern Visayas as part of the National Children’s Month celebration in November.

The PNP will end the “Half Million Tsinelas Campaign” this week after soliciting support from government and private sectors in the distribution of flip flops to children from poor families.

Target areas are poor communities and rebel-infested areas.

“The flip flop is just a symbol of government’s help for them to progress. Every day, they use the footwear to take a step towards progress,” PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Gilberto Cruz said on Monday.

Participating in the collection of slippers are police stations in towns and cities in the region where individuals and groups place their donations inside a box for the campaign.

Among the biggest donor of this initiative is the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCCI). The group donated at least 800 slippers to the PNP.

FCCCI President Jack Uy said that the donation is just one of the many partnerships they have with the PNP in the region.

“We appreciate this project and the business community in Tacloban will always be at the back of the PNP supporting them in every program that will benefit not only for safety of people but also for the improvement and development of their living condition,” Uy added.

Last September 29, key PNP regional officials visited the town of Maslog in Eastern Samar to distribute flip flops, school bags with school supplies to children.

During the activity, some 499 individuals also availed of the PNP’s medical and dental mission services.

“Our role as police officers does not end in enforcing the law nor in ensuring safe and secured communities. It is also our objective to ensure the wellness of the people we serve. It is not just a call of social responsibility, it is our advocacy,” Cruz said. (RTA/LAAA/PNA)