The task force chairman, Police Sgt. Ben Sablan, said a “walking patrol” will help deter criminal activities.
But, he added, the Department of Public Safety is understaffed and cannot regularly secure all villages on island.
This is why Sablan is encouraging the task force block captains to create patrol units in their areas.
He said he can devise patrol strategies that these units can use.
“Let us be more vigilant,” he told the task force members during their regular meeting in the conference room of the Saipan municipal council.
Block captain
Yesterday, the task force officially recognized the new volunteer block captains.
They are Kagman High School vice principal Eric M. Magofna and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. water division supervisor Glenn Dikito.
Magofna and Dikito reside in Kagman.
The other block captains are Frank B. Camacho of Dandan; Sebastian Tajibmai, Tanapag; Eric Atalig, Susupe and Chalan Kanoa; Rose Ada-Hocog, Koblerville; and Gus Pangelinan, San Vicente.
Pangelinan and Kimo Rosario attended the meeting as representatives of Saipan Mayor Donald G. Flores.
Sablan encouraged the two to join the task force as block captains in their area.
Other task force officers present were Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council Chairman Ramon B. Camacho, Vice Chairman Eric Demapan Diaz, task force adviser William S. Torres, and municipal council administrator Frances Muna.
Support
Joey C. Dela Cruz, Office of Homeland Security citizen corps program coordinator, explained how they can assist the task force through the community awareness and preparedness program.
Dela Cruz was the guest during yesterday’s meeting.
The task force is willing to register as member of the National Neighborhood Watch so it can avail of services like training on fire safety and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, among other things.
Torres said the task force should make use of all available resources to propagate it programs.
Task force members have been invited to local radio and TV talk shows so they can inform the community about their activities and programs.
Task force members are also scheduled to attend PTA meetings of the island’s various schools.
Yesterday, the task force finalized its by-laws and articles of incorporation.
