The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its attached agencies are seeking a P251.18-billion budget for next year to hire more cops, firefighters and build jails.
During the budget hearing of the DILG, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the agency also wants to strengthen local governments (LGU) capacity to recover from the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
Abalos said the 2023 budget of the DILG is higher compared to the P249.4-billion budget this year.
The 2023 budget of the DILG will include Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) P22.3 billion, Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) P26.772 billion and Philippine National Police’s (PNP) P191.496 billion.
“We want to step up the fight against insurgency, criminality, and illegal drugs to ensure people’s safety,” he added.
Eighty-seven percent or P217.3 billion of the DILG’s total budget will go to personnel service, while 12 percent or P31.15 billion will go to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and 1 percent or P2.6 billion for capital outlays.
The budget for personnel services will include the retirement and gratuity for the retirees of the PNP, BFP and BJMP, terminal leave benefits of 1,447 compulsory retirees, and loyalty pay.
It will also include creation of 2,000 Fire Officers 1; 2,000 Jail Officers 1; 1,000 Patrolmen and Patrolwomen, as well as 200 Philippine Public Safety Cadets and filling up 18,509 unfilled positions in the PNP, BFP and BJMP.
Meanwhile, the budget for MOOE will be for the implementation of projects that will enhance the governance and service delivery capacity and efficiency of LGUs, maintenance and operating costs of fire stations, fire trucks, jail buildings, prisoners vans, police stations, police vehicles and police patrol operations.
The MOOE budget is also for the provision of subsistence and medicine allowance for the projected 182,556 persons deprived of liberty, quick response fund for PNP and BFP and rice subsidy for the uniformed personnel of the tri-bureau.
For capital outlays, the DILG budget will be for the construction of 60 fire stations, 1 district jail and perimeter fences in four jails and 11 police stations, procurement of 41 fire trucks, six ambulances, three collapsed rescue trucks, 14 BJMP transport vehicles, 461 patrol jeeps and 120 carriers.
The budget for capital outlays will also include acquisition of firearms and communication and investigative equipment as well as procurement of various furniture and fixtures.
Image credits: DILG/Facebook