Wed | 01.16.2019 | 12:00 NN
Road users may soon expect quicker response time from the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) after the agency received a P4 million financial grant from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) recently.
The grant will be used to enhance PNP-HPG’s existing facilities through the procurement of an information technology dispatch system which includes a global positioning system (GPS), dashboard cameras, sim card on-line web tracking, Fleet Management System Customization for HPG, wireless inter-connection for MMDA/CCTV network, 55’ LED monitors with PC command center package and android mobile phone for mobile monitoring.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo said, among PAGCOR’s mandate is to entrust public funds to qualified institutions like PNP to assist them in the delivery of social welfare and development programs and services. “As long as it’s put to good use and properly liquidated, we will keep on giving support,” she said.
HPG Director Police Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo said PAGCOR’s P4-million donation is timely since they need to improve their information technology equipment, monitoring and communication system. “We need to upgrade our system to cope with the fast changing technology. But modernizing our equipment entails additional support and we only have limited funds from PNP. PAGCOR’s financial support will enhance the capability of HPG,” he said.
The HPG will install CCTVs in their mobile patrol which will also be equipped with a laptop so they can check incidents in the highway on real-time basis. Hence, immediate response is possible. Fajardo added that, with the system in place, they can easily locate if the mobile patrols are strategically located around Metro Manila.
“Ito ang gagamitin na pag-monitor ng mga sasakyan, sa mga dinadaanan ng ating kapulisan, sa mga carnapping at road safety awareness. Ngayon, yung reporting ng incidents, kailangan pang itawag sa radyo. Pero kapag naset-up na itong bagong system, mai-icheck na online, mabilis ang data collection, mapapabilis din ang reporting at pag-responde kapag may incidents like carnapping,” Fajardo cited.
He added that one of HPG’s biggest achievements in the past years was the decrease in carnapping incidents in the country, lowering the number by 30 percent because of technology and manhunt. “With these new equipment, we will be able to enhance our services and strengthen our fight against criminality. Maraming salamat sa suporta nyo sa PNP-HPG. Susuklian namin ito ng tapat na serbisyo para sa kababayan natin,” he said.
PAGCOR has been a staunch supporter of the PNP for many years. It has also previously donated P4 million to the HPG for the procurement of traffic management and anti-carnapping equipment in 2017. In 2015, the agency donated 15 mobile patrol cars to the Manila Police District and in 2011, PAGCOR donated P4 million to the PNP General Hospital.