THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P2.86 billion to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the Philippine National Police (PNP) Operational Transformation Plan for FY 2013, aimed at enhancing the capability of the country’s police force and improving crime prevention and security nationwide.
Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad reported that the release will cover the repair and maintenance of police supplies and the procurement of mission-essential equipment for mobility, firepower, communication, and investigation.
“Ensuring sustained and inclusive development will also depend on the government’s ability to facilitate peace and order in the country. We still have a lot of work to do toward bringing greater security to our communities, especially in areas where crime and violence are a systemic problem. This latest release will support and better capacitate our police force, allowing us to safeguard our people and make our crime prevention efforts more strategic and efficient,” Abad said.
Of the total amount, P2.5 billion will support the procurement of 1,000 patrol jeeps, 13,597 long firearms, and 4,997 mobile radios. It will also fund the improvement of the Firearms Identification System (FIS), which was designed to enhance police investigative capabilities on firearms-related cases.
In addition, P344 million will cover minor repairs and the repainting of 810 of the most dilapidated police stations, as well as fund the procurement of M4 magazines and kits for PNP maneuver units.
The budget chief also noted that an allocation worth P655 million is also set to be released for the creation of positions and hiring of 7,439 Non-Uniformed Personnel (NUPs), who will be assigned to regional offices to accomplish mostly administrative work.
“By increasing the number of staff in our regional offices, our policemen won’t have to preoccupy themselves with administrative matters. Instead, they can focus on mobilizing their forces more effectively so they can respond more quickly to emergencies and improve their visibility in their assigned areas,” Abad added. (DBM)
