MANILA, Philippines–Cops will soon do the rounds of the communities on a fleet of brand-new patrol vehicles.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas: More patrol jeeps
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said on Tuesday the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the procurement of 1,865 units of patrol jeeps worth nearly P2 billion for the Philippine National Police.
“The purchase of the vehicles (is intended) to enhance police mobility and shorten the response time to crime or rescue situation,” Roxas said in a statement.
He said interested suppliers could attend the pre-bid conference for the patrol vehicles on July 10 at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“The bidding will be conducted in an open and transparent process in compliance with Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act,” he said.
Roxas said submitted bids in excess of the approved budget of P1.864 billion would be automatically disqualified from bidding for the project.
In addition, the PNP will also purchase 551 more patrol vehicles as approved by the Procurement Service of the DBM, according to Roxas.
He said the latest procurement project in the PNP was part of the Aquino administration’s efforts to ensure that each of the 144 cities and 1,490 municipalities in the country would have a patrol vehicle.
“The distribution of the police patrol jeep will depend on the need of the cities and municipalities,” Roxas said.
As set by the PNP, he said the patrol jeeps should be modular and “configurable to be both out-ward and in-ward facing.”
The interior secretary said the vehicles must have a minimum capacity of 12 persons “to provide police force tactical and quick deployment.”
Roxas said the Department of the Interior and Local Government has also approved the procurement of handheld radios for PNP patrol vehicles.