CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte – The Philippine National Police(PNP) has increased the cost of construction for police stations located in remote or island towns.
This was disclosed by Police Major Aspiro Badiola, project management unit officer-in-charge of the PNP-8, who said that the increase in funding could help attract more bidders.
It was learned that some contractors shy away from joining bidding for construction of a police station located in a remote or coastal area due to a low amount earmarked by the PNP for such project.
At present, the PNP has a uniform budget of P4.8 million for its standard three-storey police station.
“Given this present budget, they are not keen in participating in the procurement process,” Badiola said.
The region, particularly in Samar and Northern Samar provinces, has island municipalities and towns that are located along the mainland but are better reached by boat due to accessibility or road condition problems.
“We already made a recommendation for the upgrading of cost estimates for upcoming projects. In fact, for the projects for 2019, the island municipalities and far-flung towns will now have a P6.4 million budget for police station construction,” Badiola said.
“Hopefully this will entice our contractors to participate in our bidding processes,” he added.
Of the 101 on-going implementation of standard municipal stations, the PNP-8 is set to inaugurate police stations in the towns of Bobon, Northern Samar; Can-avid, Eastern Samar; Liloan, Southern Leyte; Tabango and Bato, both in Leyte.
Other police stations set to be inaugurated are in San Isidro and Biri, both in Northern Samar; Basey and Hinabangan, both in Samar; Inopacan and Ormoc City Police Station 2, both in Leyte.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
