ROXAS CITY — Councilor Jericho Celino has taken into his own hands the task of providing insurance to Civilian Volunteer Officers (CVO).
Celino said he is using his own pay as city councilor for the Kutot Assistance Program.
The program has initially covered 20 barangays but Celino said it will cover all 47 of the city’s barangays.
The insurance would be Php10,000 for dismemberment and other concerns, Celino said.
In an Aug. 28 cellphone interview, Celino said that CVOs “face risks in dealing with confrontations at night in the community and COVID-19.”
Celino said that he originally proposed the program to be a city ordinance but with the city government having other concerns to deal with and budget concerns, he said that he took it upon himself to proceed with the endeavor.
All that the CVOs must do is to come to him to avail themselves of the program, Celino said.
“Sang kapitan ako, gaupod ako sa ila,” Celino shared that his experience as village chief has driven this advocacy.
According to Celino, the program is done out of his goodwill and for the trust given to him and former Roxas City mayor Angel Alan Celino.