President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to be more strategic in its procurement of communications equipment to further improve its interoperability, especially in emergency and crisis situations.
During the first PNP Command Conference held in Quezon City, President Marcos stressed the need to establish good communications system within PNP.
“We have to be able to communicate to each other, lalung-lalo na dito sa mga disaster response. Kailangan alam natin kung ano ‘yung situation on the ground. Kailangan ‘yung nandoon na pulis, makapag-report kaagad na may nangyari, ganito yung situation, ito yung kailangan namin,” he said.
President Marcos also told PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. to secure a plan to improve its communications capacity, as the chief executive raised concern about the reported low equipment capacity of the national police.
“We really need to come up with a plan to improve the communications capability of PNP. You cannot do your job without being able to communicate because mag-aantay kayo ng instructions, magre-report kayo sa central office, et cetera,” he said.
“So that’s something that, I think, we need to look into very well, kasi ‘yung fill-up mababa masyado. Even digital radio, tactical—hindi tayo umabot ng 40 percent in any of the categories,” he further stated.
As of February 14, the PNP is still far from filling up at least half of its requirement for communications equipment.
It recorded a 32.05 percent fill-up for digital radio, 33.98 percent for tactical radio and 2.48 percent for satellite phones.
Procurement of these equipment is programmed under the PNP Capability Enhancement Program (CEP).
The PNP is yet to complete its purchase of 18 units of conventional repeaters amounting to PhP54 million and 80 units of satellite phones amounting to PhP6.5 million under the CEP 2023.
For CEP 2024, the PNP is planning to procure 2,039 units body worn cameras, one unit of digital trunked radio system, an additional 18 units of conventional repeaters, and 420 units of VHF low band handheld radio, costing PhP585 million.
According to the PNP, the procurement under the CEP 2024 is delayed due to issues in the Terms of Reference. However, the PNP assured that this is being addressed.
The PNP targets to complete the procurement for CEP 2023 and 2024 within 2024, which will increase its fill-up rate to 32.07 percent for digital radio, 39.17 percent for tactical radio, and 6.03 percent for satellite radio.
President Marcos also told PNP officials to study the use of other communications equipment that may be suited in local situations, noting that technology nowadays is getting cheaper and better.
“The advantage that we have is that technology is getting cheaper. Satellite phones are getting cheaper. All kind of communications equipment are getting cheaper and better,” he said.
“So, tignan ng mabuti what it is that we can do so we can provide our people with the best possible communications equipment,” he added.
President Marcos also mentioned the equipment that is being used by other police forces overseas, as he directed the police to look into what can be adapted in the Philippines.
The chief executive went on to remind attending officials to ensure that all equipment for communication are standardized to ensure interoperability across the country, along with providing a secured network where communications between units and offices within PNP can work around.
“Napag-usapan namin ni General Acorda yan in our sectoral meeting that our procurement must be all standardized so that the interoperability is clear,” the President said.
“Kahit ‘yung pulis malipat sa ibang lugar, pareho pa rin ang gamit, pareho pa rin ang procedure, pareho pa rin ang sistema. So, I think that’s very important thing: there has to be consistency,” he said. PND
