PALO, Leyte — Enhancing the communication systems capability of law enforcers in the region is one of the top priorities of the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office.
Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, Police Regional Office 8 director, said only the regional office and six provincial offices have radio communication devices. Police officers only use it during big events or when there are key officials visiting the region.
“In the day-to-day operations of our policemen, they do not have radio communication units. The national headquarters will be providing us with the base radio, mobile radio and repeater,” Carlos told reporters in a press briefing here Monday.
One hand-held radio and two battery packs will be issued to every policeman under the program. Base radios have already been provided to police stations in every municipality and cities in the region.
The PNP modernization project includes the nationwide procurement of a digital communication system project worth PHP1.2 billion to help in the fight against crime and terrorism and improve the flow and relay of communications within the agency.
Even if policemen have mobile phones, radio communication devices are still important to immediately contact policemen especially those assigned in far-flung communities where mobile phone signal is very weak.
“With the provision of new communication equipment, policemen can no longer make bad signal as an excuse not to respond to emergencies,” Carlos added.
The official hopes the project will be realized before the year ends with the initial delivery of base radios to police stations. (Roel Amazona/PNA)
