THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has requested for funding assistance from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the proposed P14.8 billion worth of infrastructure projects for the police.

PNP logistics office director Major General Edwin Roque said they submitted pertinent documents and requirements to the DPWH for the 2020 prioritization program during a meeting with the agency over the weekend.

He said the P14,843,473,726.47 total proposed budget will be allotted for the building of new facilities in all 17 police regional offices nationwide.

Roque said P11.018 billion was for projects in Luzon, P1.96 billion for Visayas, and P1.85 billion for Mindanao.

“The proposed infrastructure projects include police station buildings, combat simulation facility, firing ranges, additional office buildings for provincial police offices, city police office and Provincial Mobile Force Company barracks, quarters and dormitories, additional NHQ (national headquarters) and RHQ (regional headquarters) building, regional NSU building, and others,” he said.

During the meeting, Roque said DPWH Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership Maria Catalina Cabral acknowledged the urgency of availability of the proposed PNP infrastructure and vowed the continuous support to the PNP modernization program.

In return, Roque said Cabral sought PNP assistance for security of DPWH projects and equipment against possible attacks by terrorist and criminal elements in the countryside.

A P267.89-million DPWH-funded project is currently underway in Camp Crame for a five-story multi-purpose carpark building.

Roque said the project aims to somehow ease traffic woes inside the police camp.

“The building is designed with 176 parking slots, 12 multi-purpose function halls, drivers’ lounge, concessionaire spaces, pavilion and roof deck, 32 comfort rooms for male, female and PWD; vehicle ramp, four ground floor PWD ramps, two passenger elevators, three staircases and an administration office,” said Roque. (SunStar Philippines)