MANILA, Oct. 13 (PNA) – To beef up its anti-criminality campaign, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday started to drive test patrol jeeps and motorcycle which is set to purchase by the PNP.
According to Director Francisco Uyami Jr., PNP Directorate for Research and Development, it is planning to purchase 560 patrol jeeps with 2.4 liters engine displacement and 806 Kawasaki 125 cc motorcycles to be used in anti-criminality campaigns using its regular allocation.
Initially, an Indian motor company, Mahindra, won the bidding for the 13-seater patrol jeeps, offering a price of Php895,000 per unit, or lower than the Php900,000 per unit allocation of the PNP.
Meanwhile, KServico won the bidding for the Kawasaki 125 cc motorcycle, offering a price of Php89,900 per unit or lower than the Php90,000 per unit allocation of the PNP.
Uyami said the patrol jeeps would cost the PNP around Php504 million while the motorcycles will cost around Php72 million.
He clarified that the PNP has not yet bought the units and is still subjecting the vehicles to test their functionality and durability.
He said the functionality test of the vehicles began on Monday in Camp Crame and is expected to last for three days including a long distance drive to test the vehicles’ durability.
He added that they were done in dimensional test in Subic, Zambales, which includes speed tests, break tests and ascension tests. Next will be subjecting these to a long distance drive.
The patrol jeeps will be driven for 1,500 km from Manila to Baguio and will be brought to rugged areas in the Kalinga, with a full load of 1,200 kilos representing 13 passengers.
Meanwhile, the motorcycles will run non-stop for 1,000 km, with pit stops at certain police stations but with the engine still running.
Uyami said all police stations in the country including maneuver units like the Special Action Force and the Regional Public Safety Battalions will be given patrol jeeps and motorcycles for a quicker response time to crime incidents and investigations.
Upon completion of the tests, the results will be forwarded to the Department of Budget and Management’s procurement service.
The PNP expects the awarding and signing of the contract, as well as the delivery of the vehicles by next month if the vehicles pass the functionality test and evaluation. (PNA)