DILG to procure patrol vehicles to improve police response time

Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame. File photo.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be procuring more patrol vehicles to improve further police’s emergency response time, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

This came in a statement on Saturday, a day after the PNP command conference with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“The [DILG] will shoulder the procurement of patrol vehicles to ensure that police mobility and visibility are significantly improved, an essential move to support the new five-minute response time strategy,” the PNP said.

Upon taking office earlier this June, PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III set a five-minute response time target for the law enforcement agency.

Torre also previously directed the police force to conduct mobile patrolling, instead of being stationed at their outposts and community precincts, so that officers are able to immediately respond to requests for assistance through the 911 emergency call system.

READ: PNP sets 5-minute police response time in a pilot test for Metro Manila

In Friday’s command conference, according to the PNP, Torre directed the agency to enhance its internal communication.

“Effective policing begins with effective communication. That’s why I’ve ordered random radio simex (simulation exercises)… because when seconds matter, we cannot afford to fail in the field,” Torre said in the statement.

The PNP chief specified that the directive applies to Police Regional Offices (PROs), particularly noting those of the National Capital Region and Calabarzon. /jpv