Bohol got the most number of police patrol jeeps from the Philippine National Police across the country.
DILG Usec. for Operations Edwin Enrile and PNP Director for Logistics Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño Jr. turned over the 47 patrol jeeps on Monday to the chiefs of police in the towns and the city during a ceremony at Camp Dagohoy.
Governor Edgar Chatto and Police Regional Office-7 Director Prudencio Bañas joined them during the ceremony.
Police Provincial Director Dennis Agustin, DILG Provincial Director Louisella Lucino, the mayors, chiefs of police and MLGOOs also attended the ceremony.
The procurement of patrol jeeps is part of the Oplan Lambat-Sibat of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the PNP.
Under the national program, the PNP-national provides heavy-duty patrol jeeps to police stations in the localities to improve police visibility.
The new patrol cars can navigate through rough roads and the engine can last three days of continuous running, according to Enrile.
Of all the provinces, Bohol received the most number of patrol cars from DILG.
The governor, for his part, said the new patrol cars can help a lot in the police operations against all forms of criminalities, especially the illegal drugs trade.
Enrile said the Philippine National Police procured a total of 1,490 patrol jeeps for all the police stations across the country.
Of the number, 1,125 were already distributed.
Enrile added that the national government increased the capital outlay from eight percent in 2010 to 23.4 percent in 2016.
He attributed this to the improved fiscal performance and investor confidence that allows the national government to increase the national budget from P1.5 Trillion in 2010 to P3 Trillion in 2016.
Enrile cited that in the Asian region, the average for capital outlay is 14 percent.
“The distribution of PNP patrol jeeps is part of this capital outlay, where previously the PNP also achieved 1:1 ratio for pistol and police,†he added.
Around 1,000 more patrol jeeps are to be turned over to the municipalities.
The PNP also intends to distribute more equipment for radio communications enhancement, procure P2-Billion worth of M4 weapons and construct of police stations in the municipalities.
Of the 279 police stations to be constructed nationwide, five have been in the pipeline for Bohol in 2016.
The PNP allocated P100 million for the construction of 17 stations this year, 300 in 2017, and 250 police stations in 2018 across the country.
Through the strong support of national government, the PNP is poised to meet challenges of peacekeeping.
Vaño said the PNP hopes to reap more gains from this enhancement in mobility and for this to translate to more victories in anti crime, more immediate response, and wider reach for peacekeeping effort.
Chatto, for his part, said this is one of most awaited activities as Bohol also strives to champion peace and security, recognizing peace as a requirement for development and the integral role of community involvement in peacekeeping efforts.
The governor also acknowledged achievements of the national government through the
DILG in bridging gaps in logistics and equipment through programs implemented by Former DILG Sec. Mar Roxas and continued by his successor, Sec. Senen Sarmiento.
The DILG also embarked on service establishment programs for the BFP and the BJMP as well as direct downloading of funds from national government to local governments through programs such as the BUB, Pamana, KALAHI, and even the internal revenue allotment.