PNP embarks on a major decongestion plan

General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), wants to relocate the main office of some of the police units in areas where they are needed most.

Cascolan said the move is part of the decongestion of the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City and will focus on moving several offices in order to expedite the delivery of services to the people.

Under the decongestion plan, among the offices that would be relocated are the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPOs), the Maritime Group, the Highway Patrol Group HPG), the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) and the Special Action Force (SAF).

The PNP DIPOs have five offices which are all located at Camp Crame—the DIPO for Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, the Visayas, Eastern Mindanao and Western Mindanao. The Maritime Group, HPG and the PSPG, on the other hand, also have their main offices at Camp Crame while the SAF has a headquarters in Taguig City.

Other units that are set to be relocated are the Logistics Support Service, the Explosive and Ordnance Division/K9, the PNP Training Service, the PNP Health Service.

The plan also includes the decentralization  of PNP Licensing and accessibility of frontline services such as One-Stop Shop, Firearms and Explosives, Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA), Directorate for Intelligence and National Police Clearance, and Motor Vehicle Clearance.

“We will first implement this plan in the National Headquarters and then to all PNP camps by decongesting and streamlining units and offices, relocating operational units closer to the public for faster and better delivery of their services,” he said.

Cascolan also emphasized the PNP will embark on an intensive Human Resource Development to ensure that every police personnel know his or her job and do them well. 

"We will improve individual and unit skills in performing basic police roles, marksmanship, patrolling, intelligence, police operations, investigation and community relations, through intensified training, modernization of equipment, and utilization of information and communications technology,"  said Cascolan.

He announced that a comprehensive organizational audit will be conducted as a basis in reorganization and restructuring of PNP units and offices.