DILG earmarks P219 M for police, fire stations in Bohol

MANILA, Philippines - At least P219.1 million has been allocated by the national government for the repair of police and fire stations and the construction of new ones in Bohol, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas said the fund will also be used to purchase new fire trucks and recruit 195 non-uniformed personnel who will handle administrative and technical jobs in various police stations in Bohol.

Roxas said the DILG has allotted this year a total of P12.4 million for the construction of police stations in the towns of Loon, Tubigon and Alicia, while another P2.2 million was earmarked for the repair of police stations under “Oplan Hilamos,” or Oplan Dignity.

Police stations that will receive P200,000 each to renovate their dilapidated offices are those in the towns of Catigbian, Trinidad, Ubay, Batuan, Candijay, Carmen, Dimao, Jagna, Loboc, Pilar, and Valencia.

Roxas said fire stations costing P2.6 million each will be built in two towns in the first congressional district of Bohol (Catigbian and Sikatuna); nine towns in the second district; and nine towns in the third district.

Twenty-four Bohol towns were also allotted a fire truck each, worth P6 million to P8 million.

Under Oplan Hilamos, the government has allocated P170 million to renovate at least 1,700 old and dilapidated police stations all over the country.

Roxas said local police chiefs will be allowed to decide what to repair or renovate in their respective stations, and these may include the roofing, toilets, lighting and paint. A work program will cover every police station.

Oplan Hilamos, according to Roxas, is meant “to bring dignity back to the (police) officers’ place of work.”