A TOTAL of 26 sports utility vehicles donated by the Japanese government arrived in Davao City for the improvement of the city's police mobility and visibility.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Alexander Tagum said on Tuesday that the formal turnover of the patrol vehicles (Mitsubishi Montero) provided by the Japanese government through Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will be on January 15.
“Immensely, more than double na ang mobile patrol Cars na deployed natin 24/7 that are linked up to Central 911,” Senior Superintendent Tagum said.
Before the donation, the DCPO has 18 units of patrol cars under the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG). With the new vehicles, the number goes up to 42 patrol cars.
These patrol cars will be deployed in strategic locations of the 12 police stations.
In anticipation of these new vehicles, DCPO spokesperson Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan earlier said that they conducted a one-day drivers and maintenance staff training basic operations and safety last week.
“The Mitsubishi Philippines conducted [training for the] 30 drivers for the mobile patrol because we are still waiting for other drivers,” Police Senior Gaspan said.
They need around 73 drivers for the three shifts. The salary of the drivers will be shouldered by the City Mayor's Office.
Thus, she invited more applicants preferably with experience and of good moral character to submit their application letter with PDS to Admin Section of DCPO.
Last July 17, DCPO also received 14 brand new mobile vehicles from the city government of Davao, which cost around P21 million.