The Police Regional Office-Cordillera has recommended to the Philippine National Police Office headquarters a different way of measuring the body mass index of cops in the region.
“We recommended that the measurement be done by getting the wrist, chest, and age,” which is reflective of the typical body frame of the Cordilleran, said PRO-Cor Director, B/Gen. R’Win Pagkalinawan said.
He said the current way of determining if a person is obese or overweight does not apply to the Cordilleran whose natural body built is stocky.
The current system of getting the body mass index (BMI) would make many Cordillerans obese or overweight.
“In the BMI, only 52 percent of our personnel passes,” Pagkalinawan said.
“Although cops in the Cordillera are physically fit,” even if they are overweight, Pagkalinawan said, adding the BMI issue was raised during the visit of PNP Chief Archie Gamboa to PRO-Cor last week.
Upon his assumption as officer-in-charge of the PNP, Gamboa ordered policemen nationwide to be physically fit and slim to be able to properly discharge their functions in running after criminal elements.
He said while the Cordilleran is considered overweight by BMI standards, they are healthy and strong in trekking the mountains.
“Cordillerans are stocky but have no flabs. Our standard of being strong is (being able to) walk for miles,” Pagkalinawan said.
He said PRO-Cor’s health service regularly monitors the weight of the personnel and updates their record.
Pagkalinawan said they hope the national headquarters will approve their proposal and apply it to all Cordilleran police personnel assigned to other regions.
Those who fail to meet the ideal BMI are denied schooling, which is one of the bases for a police officer’s promotion.
Those who have never shown any progress in meeting their ideal BMI could also be separated or dismissed from service. – PNA with a report from Corwin Lucas Golonan
April 24, 2024
