CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Northern Mindanao's law enforcers will take a vow to be agents of change in the country as the Philippine National Police (PNP) observes National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW).

Director Maria Luisa Opina of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in the region said the "Panata sa Pagbabago" or Pledge of Change program aims to complement the PNP's moral renewal program and heighten the sense of responsibility among the region's policemen.

Another program marking NCPW was Wednesday's launching of the Police Excellence Award, which covered Cagayan de Oro City's 10 police stations, said Opina.

"This award aims to encourage and challenge our Cocpo (Cagayan de Oro City Police Office) personnel to be proactive and not only reactionary," Opina said.

The Police Excellence Award is Napolcom's first undertaking in Cagayan de Oro in line with President Benigno Aquino III's call to "follow the right path" as a way of life for the entire nation, she added.

Police stations will be awarded according to a set of criteria, including the mechanisms in identifying the peace and order problems in their respective jurisdictions and how these are solved; and community participation in police efforts.

"Community participation is vital to the success of the police in solving crime-related problems. It's how the police commander and his men craft programs that would engage the community into helping the police fight and prevent crimes," Opina said.

Along with law enforcers, Opina herself and leaders of business groups, the academe, and non-government organizations (NGOs) participated in the Pledge of Change program at the Freedom Kios in Divisoria.

Observed annually every first week of September, the NCPW is now on its 16th year. This year's theme is "Komunidad at Pulisya Magkasama Tungo sa Pag-unlad ng Bayan" with the slogan, "Ako, Ikaw, Tayong Lahat Labanan ang Krimen!"