PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Philippine National Police to be more strategic in its acquisition of communication equipment to improve its interoperability, especially in emergencies and crises.
During the first PNP Command Conference held in Quezon City on Thursday, February 15, Marcos emphasized the need to establish a robust communication system within the police agency, particularly in disaster response.
He stressed the importance of immediately knowing th e situation on the ground, where, according to Marcos, police officers assigned to an area should promptly report to address issues swiftly.
President Marcos also instructed PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. to secure a plan to enhance the communication capacity of the PNP.
The directive stems from the executive’s concern about the reported low capacity of the national police’s equipment.
As of February 14, the PNP falls far short of filling at least half of its requirements for communications equipment.
The recorded fill-up is 32.05 percent for digital radio, 33.98 percent for tactical radio, and 2.48 percent for satellite phones.
The procurement of these tools is programmed under the PNP Capability Enhancement Program (CEP).
The PNP has yet to complete the purchase of 18 units of conventional repeaters worth 54 million pesos and 80 units of satellite phones worth 6.5 million pesos under CEP 2023.
For the CEP 2024, the PNP plans to purchase 2,039 units of body-worn cameras, a unit of a digital trunked radio system, an additional 18 units of conventional repeaters, and 420 units of VHF low-band handheld radios, totaling 585 million pesos.
Procurement under CEP 2024 has been delayed due to issues with the Terms of Reference.
However, the PNP assures that these concerns are being addressed.
Meanwhile, President Marcos also directed police officials to explore the use of other communication tools suitable for local situations, noting that current technology is becoming more affordable and efficient.
He also reminded them to ensure that all communication equipment is standardized to guarantee interoperability nationwide.
