MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is planning to acquire additional motorcycles to upgrade its operational mobility, targeting communities where four-wheel police cars prove inefficient due to tight roads, heavy traffic, and poor road conditions.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. explained that expanding the motorcycle fleet will significantly reduce response times for emergency calls and criminal occurrences.
“Gone are the days when policemen are being portrayed in movies as always the last to arrive in an emergency situation. The prevailing mindset now is pro-active, quick response and crime solution efficiency,” Nartatez said.
“And when it comes to crime prevention and quick response, a sufficient and appropriate number of mobility assets really matter,” he added.
According to Nartatez, the effort aligns with the police force’s objective of enhancing frontline operations, specifically providing faster access to citizens during crisis situations.
The initiative follows a recent turnover by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of 73 motorcycles to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). These units will be allocated to police stations in Manila, Quezon City, Pasay, Pasig, and Taguig to improve patrol and response capabilities.
“The provision of motorcycles will help our personnel better respond to the calls of all our kababayan in the Unified 911 Hotline,” Nartatez noted.
To ensure proper utilization, the procurement project will incorporate motorcycle-riding training programs for police personnel.
Funding for the fleet expansion will draw from the PNP Capability Enhancement Program, which has a total budget allocation of ₱2 billion to support logistics, mobility, and overall operational requirements.
While acknowledging donations from external government partners, Nartatez reaffirmed that acquiring essential assets remains a core priority within the PNP’s internal budget.
“We are thankful for donations from government agencies but I also assure our police stations that procurement of assets is among our priorities in the PNP’s budget allocation and utilization,” Nartatez said.