PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — A flight of stairs 10 storeys high in less than two minutes.
The PNP is seriously considering this standard speed and endurance record in the proposed “Verzosa Test” or “10-Storey Ascension Standard Test” that every policeman must meet as among the required exercises in a semestral physical fitness exam for all personnel.
According to PNP chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa, the 10-storey flight of stairs will be the virtual career ladder for advancement to key positions of every senior police officer seeking higher rank and position of major responsibility in the organization.
Verzosa has tasked the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development to conduct test runs and come up with a minimum speed and endurance table that will be adopted in physical fitness tests.
The DHRDD headed by Director German B. Doria has been conducting a series of evaluation runs at the Atlanta Tower in Greenhills, with 24 male and female test subjects representing six different age groups between 21 and 55 years old.
A rookie policeman who is a marathon runner belonging to the 29-below age bracket clocked a blistering 39 seconds to run the full 10-storey flight of stairs last week.
Doria and Director Leopoldo N. Bataoil of the Directorate for Police-Community Relations, both belonging to the 50-up age group negotiated the 10-storey ascent in less than two minutes.
On Tuesday, 10 PNP generals who gamely took the test passed it. They include Doria and Chief Superintendents Raul Castaneda, Lani-O Nerez, Benedict Fokno, Juan Luna, Raul Bacalzo, Roberto Rongavilla, Ireno Bacolo, Conrado Laza and Herold Ubalde.
Luna topped the generals when he timed 1 minute and 11 seconds in negotiating the 10-storey flight of stairs.
“There is no reason why the other senior officers younger than us could not do it,” Doria said.
PNP spokesman, Chief Supt. Nicanor A. Batolome said “being able to climb 10 flights of stairs will be a premium in selecting officers for sensitive positions.”
The semestral Physical Fitness Test requires all personnel to perform different exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and a 1000-meter timed run, Bartolome said.