PNP: Additional IT funds to help fight 'rapidly changing' cyber threats

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday welcomed the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to restore its budget for information technology programs.

In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the additional funds will help the organization to keep up with the rapid changing threats in cyberspace.

“This is a welcome development po kung i-revive po yung pondo para po maka-adapt po tayo,” Fajardo said.

)This is a welcome development if the fund is revived so we can adapt.)

“Yung mga software, mga hardware po na ating inire-request, after a month, meron na naman panibagong threat na hindi na kayang i-address po ng mga newly-procured ICT equipment natin. So we really have to keep pace doon sa demand ng ICT-related crimes po,” she added.

(The software and hardware that we are requesting, after a month, there is another threat that our newly procured ICT equipment can no longer address. So we really have to keep pace with the demand for ICT-related crimes.) 

On Tuesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Marcos ordered the restoration of the IT budget and the removal of the additional P500-million intelligence funds for the PNP.

The PNP IT projects include the Enhancement of the National Police Clearance System; Establishment of the Safe Camp Security System; and the PNP Drug-Related Data Integration and Generation System, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

More funds will also be reallocated for the Integrated National 911 Emergency Response System.

Remulla said the integrated 911 Emergency Response system is planned to be launched by June in the Greater Metro Manila area, Cebu and Mindanao, and in each region every month thereafter.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News