Andaya urges PNP to hire civilians to maintain patrol vehicles

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. on Sunday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to open more slots for driver-mechanics for non-uniformed personnel so that its vehicles would be maintained properly and constantly.

In a statement, Andaya said if the PNP hires more personnel outside its ranks to maintain its patrol vehicles, it will create a "strong maintenance culture" in the police organization that supposedly lags in preserving its assets.

“Ang perception kasi ng tao mukhang mabilis malaspag ang mga sasakyan na binili ng PNP o binigay sa kanila. Bakit ang kotse ginawang taxi or van na pinamasada, na mas mahaba pa ang tinakbo, mas tumatagal kesa doon sa pag-aari ng ating pulisya?" Andaya said.

He said the PNP should immediately come up with a plan to prolong the life of police vehicles.

Aside from better and transparent use of its car maintenance funds, Andaya recommended that the PNP hire more drivers or driver-mechanics.

“Sila yung tinatawag na force maximizer. With the right training, hindi lang pwede magmaneho, pwede pa sa basic maintenance, o troubleshooting. Kung park-and-drive ang nagagawa ng mga pulis dahil busy sila sa ibang bagay, di kumuha tayo ng mga taong naka-focus sa mga sasakyan," he said. 

Andaya pointed out that having well-maintained vehicles would help the PNP in achieving its goal of conducting 16 million foot and mobile patrols and responding to distress calls within 15 minutes by next year.

“If a crime is in progress, hindi naman pwede na mag-jogging sila papunta doon, o pumara ng habal-habal.  Even if they can communicate and shoot but if they can’t move, then they’ll be useless,” he said.

Currently, the PNP's vehicle fleet is composed of 7,083 patrol cars and jeeps, 4,683 motorcycles, 301 buses, 680 trucks and personnel carriers, and 287 specialized vehicles.

"Kailangan ma-distinguish kung ilan ang sira, hindi na tumatakbo. Updated at kung  pwede in real time ang report kasi malaking pondo ang nasasayang kung paglalaanan pa ng gas budget ang mga sasakyang hindi na tumatako," Andaya said. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News