GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The city government has donated eight new patrol cars and 10 additional assault rifles worth over PHP11 million to the city police, as part of its peace and security interventions.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said the release of the patrol cars and rifles, which was formally made on Monday, was in line with the local government's efforts to help improve the operational capability of city police units.
He said the custom-made Isuzu patrol cars, which cost PHP1.3 million each, would be used by the city's eight police stations.
The 10 Colt M4 assault rifles would also be distributed to the city police stations.
"We need to help each other to achieve a secure and peaceful city, especially since we are a highly-urbanized locality," he said during the turn-over ceremony.
The event was joined by members of the city council, officials of the city police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Edwin Año, son of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.
Rivera urged local stakeholders to continually support the peace and security initiatives in the city.
He reiterated that peace and order remains a top concern of the local government, which is working closely with the city police and the Army-led Joint Task Force GenSan.
Since last year, the city government has donated around PHP4.5 million worth of rifles and equipment for the city police's Special Weapons and Tactics or Swat unit.
It comprised 17 Israeli-made Sarfl X95 Tavor 5.56 rifles and 12 sets of Kevlar helmets, vests, pads for elbow and knees, earplugs and eyewear.
The mayor said he already instructed City Administrator Arnel Zapatos to work on the procurement of additional patrol cars and communication equipment for the city police, as earlier approved by the city peace and order council.
He said they expect to receive this week the formal communication from a consultant for the upgrading of the city police communication equipment and facilities.
"We want to upgrade their communication systems with the GPS (global positioning system) technology to properly determine the location or know where our police personnel are stationed," Rivera said.
Col. Raul Supiter, city police director, said the new patrol cars and assault rifles would be a big boost to their operations.
"It will improve our mobility and shoot capability," he said in a press briefing.
He assured the local government that they will continue to exert more efforts to improve their performance, especially in securing the city and in averting various street crimes. (PNA)
