PNP to hire more cops, procure firearms, other items with P191-billion proposed budget

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will get the lion's share in the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) proposed appropriations for 2023.

At the deliberation of the agency's budget before the House appropriations panel Thursday, PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said P191 billion has been set aside for the institution out of the DILG's P251 billion budget.

Azurin said the PNP budget will cover the hiring of 1,000 police patrol men and women; construction of 11 additional police stations; and procurement of patrol jeep, personnel carrier, light transport vehicle, 9mm pistol, 5.56 basic assault rifle, base radio and field investigator crime scene kit, among others.

The Bureau of Fire Protection, another attached agency of the DILG will get P26.7 billion, while the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology will get P22 billion.

The Office of the DILG Secretary will have a budget of P6.7 billion while the National Police Commission will have an allocation of P1.9 billion.

The Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) will receive P719 million which is 11.44% higher than its 2022 allocation of P645 million.

The other agencies under DILG will get the following allocation:

National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, P744.67 million
National Youth Commission, P126.6 million
Philippine Commission on Women, P109.207 million

House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list said the DILG budget will be used to help the country recover from the impact of COVID-19, noting the key role local government units played in the pandemic response.

“Our road to optimum economic recovery and attaining the fulfillment of our agenda for prosperity lies in the enhancement of the capacity of LGUs to efficiently perform devolved services and functions toward greater devolution," he said.

“Thru this budget, we must strengthen LGUs’ capacity to recover from the socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. [We must also] institutionalize LGU preparedness and resilience to natural disasters and in managing risks and crises,” he added.

The House panel also tackled the proposed budget of the Judiciary (P52 billion), the Department of Energy (P2.2 billion), and the Energy Regulatory Commission (P1.03 billion) during the hearing.

Co lauded the Supreme Court for its Philippine Judiciary365 app and the Judiciary Electronic Payment System project which provided a platform for videoconferencing hearings amid the pandemic. 

The technological innovations also streamlined the processes of assessment and payment of legal court fees.

"These innovations by the Supreme Court increase public access to judicial services and are thus worth praising," Co said.

He also cited the high court for its successful conduct of the first digitalized and regionalized Bar Examinations in February this year which had 1,402 examinees.

Bar results were released in just after two months.

“We look forward to more innovations to deliver efficient and accessible justice to the public,” Co added.—LDF, GMA News