Police stations to get P4B of P10-B upgrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:16:00 07/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police said it would allocate P4 billion from its P10 billion capability enhancement program fund to the 1,704 police stations around the country.
“The current leadership of the PNP has finally broken with tradition by righting the inverted triangle in allocating the funds of the PNP—by spending more in the lower echelons and the front lines where they are needed most,” said Deputy Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa, the PNP deputy chief for administration.
The P4 billion, to be disbursed over a period of four years, will be used to buy patrol cars, firearms, radio, investigation kits and crime lab tools.
The program is intended to enhance the PNP’s “move, shoot, communicate and investigate” capabilities, Verzosa said.
He said the PNP leadership is breaking with tradition by allocating a “mere” 10 percent, or only P200 million annually, to national headquarters.
“Logic and judicious financial management dictate that the bulk of the P10 billion capability enhancement funds must be spent where they are most needed. The PNP leadership has deemed it wise and necessary to invest on our frontline units—our personnel at the police stations who are the PNP’s direct link to the community,” Verzosa said.
Out of the P1 billion annual allocation, Metro Manila police stations will get 14.7 percent, or P147 million. The remaining P853 million will be distributed to other police stations. Alcuin Papa
|
