The Valenzuela City government turns over 60 patrol units and eight K-9 dogs to the local police force. Jhoanna Ballaran / INQUIRER.net
The Valenzuela City local government unit (LGU) turned over on Friday newly-acquired police patrol vehicles and K9 dogs to the city’s police force to strengthen its capability in fighting and suppressing crime.
The city government turned over 60 new police patrol units, mostly Isuzu Crosswind vehicles, to the local police that will replace the old cars in patrolling the city 24/7.
The new cars are equipped with global positioning system (GPS) and dashboard cameras.
Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the GPS aims to easily deploy operatives in crime incidents and to track the location of the vehicles, while the dashboard cameras aim to protect and guard the police.
Each vehicle costs P1,017,740.
The upgrade makes the Valenzuela City the first city in the country to have GPS-equipped police cars connected and monitored by a command center in the city police station.
The LGU also turned over eight K-9 dogs, five of which were trained to detect illegal drugs while three were trained to sniff bombs and explosives.
The dogs—which include a beagle, Belgian malinois, Jack russell, and labrador—were purchased for P350,000 each.
The LGU also spent P4 million for the renovation of a 400-square meter property into a canine kennel facility.
Gatchalian said it is important to ensure peace and order in the city that hosts the most number of industrial establishments and factories.
“Kaya importante na napapangalagaan natin hindi lang ang kapakanan ng ating negosyante kundi yung asset nila napoprotektahan natin para lalo sila ganahan na mamuhunan,” he said during the turnover ceremony at the ALERT Center in Malinta, Valenzuela City.
(So it is important to protect not just the welfare of our businessmen but also their assets so they would be more enticed to invest.) /jpv