Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said some P2.83 billion of the P22.47-billion supplemental budget for 2014 will be used to improve facilities and equipment of police stations to facilitate better public response.
He said the funds will be released to the Operational Transformation Plan of the Philippine National Police (PNP). The plan, which aims to upgrade firearms, mobility and other response equipment, requires P142.6 million for the maintenance and other operating expenses and P2.69 billion for capital outlay.
The funds will be allocated for the repair and rehabilitation of dilapidated police stations across Metro Manila, as well as purchase of basic assault rifle magazine, Abad said.
“We recognize that inclusive development would require a safe and secure environment where all Filipinos can benefit from the country’s economic growth. That’s why one of the priority projects funded by the 2014 supplemental budget was a program that would improve the capability of our country’s law-enforcement agency.”
The Aquino administration was able to fast-track the release of the P22.47-billion supplemental budget prior to the enactment of the P2.606- trillion 2015 national budget, which was questioned by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who said the government had not even spent the entire allocation for 2014.
Santiago has raised concern on the Department of Budget and Management’s request for a supplemental budget of P22.4 billion for 2014 when the national government had spent only P1.456 trillion of the P1.73 trillion allocated for the three quarters of 2014.
Abad said over the weekend that part of the funds “would cover appropriations for mobility, firearms, communication, investigation, ISO equipment and infrastructure facilities of the PNP.” Of the P2.8 billion, almost half will be for the procurement of 218,790 firearms worth P1.04 billion. This is followed closely by the purchase of 945 motor vehicles, which would amount to P944.5 million.
“Despite the challenges facing the PNP, the national government fully supports the police force in fulfilling their mandate to prevent crime and maintain peace and order. In doing so, we place value not only on the PNP as an organization but also on the service and sacrifice of our valiant and fearless policemen,” Abad said.
The funds will upgrade PNP’s total share of P70.08 billion from the 2015 national budget, which was released to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.