Marcos restores PNP’s IT budget

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to restore the outlay for the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s information technology projects as he continues to address the changes made by Congress to his administration’s expenditure program.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the budget of the DILG for this year contains several “variances” that are not included in its programs.

He noted that the allocations for the components of the PNP’s information technology program were reduced under the budget law, including that of the enhancement of the national police clearance system, which was cut from P619 million to P232 million, and the establishment of the safe camp security system, which was lowered from more than P472 million to P161 million.

The PNP drug-related data integration and generation system’s allocation was also reduced from P553 million to P196 million.

Lawmakers realigned almost P1 billion to all-terrain amphibious rescue vehicles for the Bicol region and provided an additional P500 million to intelligence funds, according to Remulla.

“So as instructed by the President to our budget secretary, the budget of the IT (information technology) program will be reverted and the additional P500 million intelligence fund placed in the GAA (General Appropriations Act) will be removed,” the DILG chief said at a press briefing at Malacañang.

He added that the P500 million allocated to the intelligence funds would be used to enhance the PNP’s 911 system, which was intended to provide a quick response to emergencies.

Asked how the administration intends to restore the allocations reduced by Congress, Remulla quoted Marcos’ veto message, which states that in the exercise of the budget execution function vested upon the executive branch, it is understood that the increases in appropriations and new budgetary items introduced by the Congress in the budget shall be subject to the national government’s cash programming, observance of prudent fiscal management, applicable budgeted execution rules and procedures and approval by the President based on the programmed priorities of the government.

“So therefore, considering that such increases in appropriations and new budgetary items will have corresponding effects on the outputs and outcomes of the agencies concerned, the DBM shall inform the said agencies of the changes in their respective appropriations and require the submission of their revised performance targets,” Remulla said.

He added that the DBM would “reprogram” the budget according to the President’s instructions.

Prank calls

A majority of calls received by the PNP 911 system are prank calls, a problem compounded by the non-integration of the national ID system with telecommunications (telco) firms.

“As per experience of all 911 centers in the Philippines, 60 percent of the calls are prank calls,” Remulla said at the same press briefing.

He added that motorcycle-riding responders or barangay personnel would be sent to verify if there is really an emergency situation in an area.

Tipsters will also be asked to send videos that will validate their report.

Asked what sanctions would be imposed on pranksters, Remulla pointed out that the country’s national ID system is not yet integrated with telcos.

“That’s why POGOs (Philippine offshore gaming operators) proliferated, because our SIM Card Registration Act … has not been that effective because no national ID is attached,” the DILG chief said.

“Sometimes, one person buys 100 SIM cards, so that has to be integrated also,” he added.

Remulla said police personnel with body cameras, police cars with locator devices, nurses, fire trucks and ambulance units would be deployed to respond to emergencies.

“It will be the state-of-the-art system which will be according to the world standards,” he added.

The Integrated National 911 System is one of the priority programs of the DILG.

Last year, the PNP said the 911 system enabled responders to arrive at an emergency scene in five minutes or less, depending on the location.

To report an emergency, cellphone or landline users have to dial 911 and press 1.