Director General Avelino Razon yesterday announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved the 5-year modernization program of the Philippine National Police, at a cost of P10 billion.

Razon said this will mean more patrol cars and other vehicles, firearms, investigative equipment, communication, training and personnel for the 120,000-strong Philippine police force

The PNP now has a yearly budget of P2 billion for a five-year period to pursue its modernization program, he added.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office initially got four of the nine brand-new Toyota Altis patrol cars given to the Police Regional Office 6 in Western Visayas, which form part of the 500 vehicles procured by the PNP in 2007.

“With more equipment for police operations, we expect a marked improvement in the delivery of police and public safety services to communities,” Razon said.

The PNP shopping list for 2008 includes three new helicopters, 526 utility vehicles, 295 motorcycles and special equipment for anti-criminality and internal security operations.

President Arroyo had earlier approved P1.7 billion fund for housing and infrastructure development for the PNP.

Razon, who spoke at the awarding rites for outstanding policemen at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City, said they are also buying 220 more patrol cars, 5,000 hand guns and 1,000 shotguns this year.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday informed Razon of his request for more policemen to be assigned in Bacolod City, while Mayor Cicero Borromeo requested for a patrol jeep for the Candoni Police Station.

Razon said the lack of policemen in majority of police stations will be addressed, either through recruitment, or downloading of personnel from national headquarters, regional and provincial police offices nationwide.

Early this year, Razon had ordered the downloading of 90 percent of policemen assigned from the regional and provincial police headquarters to city and municipal police stations.

The PNP hierarchy is also studying the possibility replicating the ‘discipline zone” conceived and implemented by Director Geary Barias in Metro Manila, in other areas of the country, which is anchored on the no-nonsense implementation of existing laws and ordinances.

Razon said he expects policemen to do their utmost in serving the Filipino people, in exchange for the overwhelming support of President Arroyo to the PNP.

“Always feel the pulse of the community, because this is one way to recognize their needs and requirements, especially on law enforcement and peace an order. And knowing what the community expects from the police force will enable you to serve and protect them better,” Razon told the Negrense policemen.*GPB

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