Hotline 117 gets P1.1-B funding

President Arroyo approved yesterday the release of some P1.1 billion to expand the Department of Interior and Local Government’s police "Hotline 117" program.

Interior Secretary Jose Lina Jr. told The STAR the expansion of the hotline program would allow the Philippine National Police (PNP) to respond to emergency calls from any part of the country.

To show support for the program, the President herself led the ceremonial launching of the "117 Youth Patrol" at Camp Crame in Quezon City yesterday.

Lina said the 117 Youth Patrol program seeks to encourage elementary and high school students, including Boy and Girl Scouts, to report crimes in their localities as part of their citizenship training programs.

"Since many of our children now have their own cell phones, we will tap them to use these gadgets for crime reporting," Lina said. "But they have to make a pledge they won’t engage in crank calls. – Marichu Villanueva