In his interpellation of the 2020 budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government (including the Philippine National Police), Sen. Lacson sought more resources for the PNP and greater capacity and for local government units. He promised to do his part to help.
QUOTES and NOTES:
* MORE ‘POWERS,’ RESOURCES for PNP:
Recruiting added PNP personnel:
For 2020, the PNP plans to recruit 10,500 personnel, including 10,000 NCOs and 500 COs, and will need P3.7B for this. “At the proper time, with the permission of the sponsor pwede siguro kami mag-introduce ng amendment ni Sen Bato,” said Sen. Lacson, who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001.
Added authority for PNP OIC:
On the powers of the PNP OIC, Sen Lacson urged the National Police Commission to issue a resolution granting the PNP OIC commensurate authority, including voting rights in the National Police Commission as an ex-officio member, and the power to appoint PNP personnel up to the rank of P/Lt. Col. “First sa discipline. If the OIC is not fully empowered to exercise authority, imagine hindi ka maka-promote man lang ng tenyente o kapitan. No matter how good the performance of your personnel you cannot even grant incentive para lalo ma-motivate.”
“Hindi ba pwedeng magkaroon ang Napolcom ng resolution to give him other powers he doesn’t enjoy as OIC? Kung pwede may Napolcom resolution to allow him to sit as ex-officio member with voting rights. Kung observer wala siyang magagawa roon. And pwede rin siguro magkaroon ng Napolcom resolution to allow him to appoint PNP personnel from the lowest mammalian to Lt Col. Ang hindi lang pwede i-appoint ng Chief PNP, ang full colonel. These are presidential appointees.”
“Tomorrow (can) we expect a Napolcom reso? We don’t know when the President will appoint (a new Chief PNP). Ang question ko, how would this affect overall efficiency of PNP?”
Budget for maintenance of procured equipment:
Sen. Lacson noted that while the PNP has a budget to modernize its equipment, it is not given enough funds by the Department of Budget and Management for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses. “You were given budget to modernize. But we noticed every budget deliberation hindi pinopondohan ng DBM ang maintenance. When you procure equipment kasama dapat dito ang maintenance. Kung bili ka copter at walang pondong pang-maintain baka madaling masira.”
“With the help of my colleague Sen dela Rosa, maybe the two of us can introduce our amendments in this regard.”
***
* DILG Proper’s Budget:
Local Government Support Fund:
For the 2019 budget, the DILG had at least P4 billion under Other Financial Assistance to LGUs, which was increased to P16B in the House and to P19B in the Senate. Yet, there was no immediate list of beneficiaries of such funds. For the 2020 budget, the DILG has a P4-billion fund for Other Financial Assistance to LGUs but Sec. Eduardo Año said during a committee hearing earlier this year that there is no list of programs to be funded by the amount.
“So is it correct to say this is lump sum appropriation? And is it correct to say we must delete this? Realign? Either make it a line item under the DILG or delete it and realign it to other.”
“And I asked the DBM during committee hearings, mukuhang di nila alam anong paggagamitan pa. So this is lump sum.”
Capacitating the Regions:
Sen. Lacson noted only 20% of RDC (Regional Development Council)-endorsed projects are adopted by the national government. “Can we increase this number?”
“The lion’s share (of resources) always go to NCR, Reg 3, 4A. Pag tiningnan natin poverty incidents, No. 1 is ARMM… Medyo hindi congruent sa needs ng LGUs. What could be the reason for this?”
“Probably because most LGUs especially poor regions, di sila capacitated. Walang absorptive capacity or capability to submit LDP. Even pag submit nila di sila na-accommodate sa RDC. This is an anomaly how can regions where Bukidnon is, 6th sila sa poverty incidence.”
“I think for future planning and RDC should capacitate LGUs para magkaroon ng equitable distribution of wealth. We are talking of P3.7 to 4.1 trillion yet we see provinces, towns and regions di makaalis. I’ve seen towns 6th class 6th class pa rin, no opportunity to improve their lot.”
*****