The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) response capabilities got another boost with the acquisition of over PHP576 million worth of sea and land mobile transport assets and communications equipment.
“The PNP is grateful to President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the national government for the gesture of genuine responsiveness to the operational needs of the PNP to perform our law enforcement and public safety mission. We can only reciprocate our gratitude through better police service to the people,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos said in his speech during the blessing of the new equipment in a ceremony at Camp Crame on Wednesday.
Among the latest addition to the PNP fleet of sea transport assets are 10 police high-speed tactical watercraft powered by triple-250 horsepower engines.
The new sea vessels will beef up the existing fleet of police gunboats currently in service with the PNP Maritime Group and Special Action Force for seaborne police operations and preventive patrol along the country’s 36,000-kilometer shoreline, and coastal borders.
Also included in the latest procurement package are 34 six-wheel utility trucks, 123 4 x 2 patrol vehicles, 170 low-band VHF tactical radio sets, and 1,628 handheld digital mobile radio transceivers.
Carlos said the latest procurement program for the new equipment was administered by the PNP Bids and Awards Committee chaired by director for comptrollership, Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
The procurement program was funded from the PNP Capability Enhancement Program (CEP) for the years 2020 and 2021.
“These vehicles and communication equipment make up the backbone of police operations the field that are expected to further boost police patrol and visibility in land and sea environment to meet requirements for greater police presence in communities under heightened Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) Alert levels, and to support KASIMBAYANAN SAFE initiatives for the forthcoming 2022 National and Local Elections,” Carlos said.
“Especially with more communication equipment available, we can now swiftly provide immediate rapid reaction to calls for police assistance and emergency response,” he added. (PNA)
