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TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1722

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, Ilocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine National Police Revitalization and Capability
Enhancement Act addresses critical challenges such as outdated
infrastructure, inadequate equipment, and emerging threats like transnational

s crime and terrorism.

This bill also prioritizes the modernization of PNP stations and facilities
to meet international green building standards and regional requirements.

Given the evolving nature of crime and security threats—including
cybercrime and terrorism—upgrading the Philippine National Police (PNP)'s .
munitions, firepower, transportation, and ICT systems is essential. These
enhancements will empower the PNP to fulfill its duties more effectively.

A well-equipped and highly capable PNP is crucial not only for
maintaining law and order but also for advancing the country’s social and
economic objectives. Strengthened police capabilities will create a safer
environment, thereby fostering economic growth and national development.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

ANG! BARBA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 172 2

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE REVITALIZATION AND CAPABILITY
ENHANCEMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine
National Police Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy. — It is hereby declared the
policy of the State to develop the Philippine National Police (PNP) into a
highly efficient, capable, and competent police force to enable it to fully
perform its mandate as the primary law enforcement agency of the
government, and be capable of supporting the social and economic goals of
the Republic, towards nation-building.

Towards this end, the State shall sustain a revitalized PNP that will
continuously carry out effective policing functions and law enforcement
operations, deliver timely and responsive frontline public safety services, and
pursue a comprehensive and integrated approach against transnational crime
and emerging forms of criminality, insurgency, terrorism and other serious
threats to internal security.

For this purpose, the State shall pursue the implementation of the PNP
Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program under the provisions of
this Act, focused on infrastructure and facilities development as well as
equipment acquisition and upgrading.

SECTION 3. PNP Revitalization Thrusts. — As used in this Act, the
term "revitalization" shall mean the state of achieving a dynamic level of
performing police functions, law enforcement operations, and frontline public


safety services, and pursuing modern approaches against criminality with the
end view of establishing and maintaining a safe, secure, orderly, peaceful, and
prosperous nation. Towards this aspiration, the PNP shall pursue the
following revitalization thrusts:

a. Fill-up of basic equipage and construction of standard police stations
and offices nationwide;

b. Acquisition of modem equipage;

c. Adoption of secured, modern, artificial intelligence (Al)-driven,
real-time information and communications technology (ICT) systems
to modernize and integrate police administration and operations;

d. Strengthening police coordination and cooperation with the citizenry,
local governments, public safety agencies, other law enforcement
agencies and pillars of the criminal justice system, and the regional and
international police communities; and

e. Enhancement of law enforcement approaches and_ intensified
operations against transnational crime and emerging forms of
criminality, insurgency, terrorism, and other serious threats to internal
security.

SECTION 4. Components of the Revitalization and Capability
Enhancement Program. - The PNP revitalization thrusts shall be realized
through the implementation of a Revitalization and Capability Enhancement
(RACE) Program.

‘As used in this Act, the term police "capability enhancement” shall mean a
measurable improvement in the performance of PNP mandates that translates
into an enduring ability to enforce the law, prevent and control crimes,
maintain peace and order, ensure public safety and internal security, and
protect the country against threats to internal security, including terrorism.

a. The Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program - shall
consist of the following components:

1. Infrastructure and Facilities Development — The objectives of this
component are:

iv Establishment of Standard Infrastructure and Basic
Facilities;


ii. Construction and upgrading of standard infrastructure like
green buildings for police stations and offices, that are
accessible and suited to the peculiar topography of or
weather conditions in the area, with provision for adequate
perimeter fencing;

iii, Construction and upgrading of basic facilities for
administrative, investigative, intelligence, operational, and
police-community-relations functions, such as: crime
laboratory; evidence rooms; storage rooms; records rooms;
appropriate custodial facilities; communications systems;
research and development centers; training institutions;
hospitals and dispensaries for delivery of medical and dental
services; and quartering and barracks facilities, in
accordance with approved camp master development plans;

2. Construction and upgrading of facilities to provide repair and
maintenance works, such as: regional or provincial motor pool and
maintenance facilities for other mobility assets.

3. Development, procurement, and management of ICT systems and
automated systems to ensure integration and effective coordination;
and

4. Real estate acquisition, titling, and management.

. Equipment Acquisition, Re-fleeting, Replenishment, and Upgrading
— The objective of this component is judicious procurement, taking
into consideration standardization, inter-operational capabilities,
maintenance and subscription costs, responsive standards and
specifications of:

1. Basic equipage;

2. Modern equipage for enhanced PNP capabilities, such as:
munitions and ordnance; firepower and weapons; transportation
and mobility assets; information and communications equipment;
intelligence; investigative and forensic equipment; including digital
forensic equipment and software and corresponding certification
trainings essential for digital forensic examination and
investigation; software solutions; testing equipment; and police
training and education equipment;

3. ICT-enabled tactical equipment; and


4. Search and rescue equipment and equipment that will enable the
PNP to perform critical functions for initial calamity response.

SECTION 5. Standards of Modernization. - In preparing and
implementing the Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program, the
standard test to indicate modernity is the possession of latest attributes or
innovative qualities of infrastructure, facilities, and equipment, over and
above the basic and standard features, or in accordance with current or latest
market or industry standards. This will enable the PNP to better adapt to the
needs of the present time, add value to services delivered, and achieve
increased citizen satisfaction with the police.

In endeavoring to modernize police infrastructure and facilities, the
primary consideration shall be developing capabilities for command and
direction, crime prevention, detection, and solution, tactical and strategic
control, effective communication, robust ICT and automated systems network,
upholding human rights and the Rule of Law, and sustained
police-community-relations.

The acquisition of modem equipment shall be based on the results of
operational needs assessment. For purposes of this Act, the term "operational
needs assessment” refers to the mandatory periodic evaluation of materiel and
logistical capabilities with the end view of identifying deficiencies or
limitations in existing resources and addressing significant impediments in
achieving operational tasks and attaining organizational mission, through
equipment acquisition.

SECTION 6. Mutual Logistics Support Service Cooperation. -
The Chief of the PNP may directly negotiate with an agency or instrumentality
or private enterprises of another country with which the Philippines has
entered into a mutual logistics support and services or law enforcement and
security cooperation agreement, or otherwise maintains diplomatic relations,
when the procurement involves modern equipage or ICT solutions for
enhanced PNP capabilities, subject to the following conditions:

a. The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, in his capacity
as ex-officio Chairperson of the National Police Commission
(NAPOLCOM), has deemed it necessary for the maintenance of
peace and order, ensuring public safety, or curbing transnational
crime; emerging forms of criminality;

b. The expertise or capability required is not locally available or the
goods, articles, supplies, or materials involved are not locally


produced or manufactured;

c. The police equipment, other law enforcement and security
equipment, and related consultancy services to be procured under
this modality are included in the PNP's Revitalization and
Capability Enhancement Program, prepared in accordance with
Section 7 of this Act; and

d. Pertinent guidelines in the negotiation of cooperation agreements,
under the Department of Foreign Affairs, shall be observed.

SECTION 7. Revitalization and Capability Enhancement
Program. - Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Chief
of the PNP shall, in consultation with the Chairperson of the NAPOLCOM and
the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), prepare
a Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program.

After consultation, the Chief of the PNP shall submit the Revitalization
and Capability Enhancement Program to the NAPOLCOM, which shall review
and endorse the same to Congress, through the Congressional Oversight
Committee created under this Act, for monitoring and overseeing.

The Program shall indicate the following:
a. The police organizational structure and staffing pattern, authorized

personnel strength, and logistics and facilities inventory during the
various implementation stages;

a

. The capability enhancement programs, projects, and activities to be
undertaken vis-a-vis the particular component and corresponding
objectives and revitalization thrusts they relate to;

c. The priorities, phases of implementation, and schedules of the
capability enhancement projects and activities; and

d. The estimated average cost of each project or activity to be undertaken.

A Program Management Office (PMO) shall be created at the PNP to
monitor, oversee, and evaluate program implementation.

SECTION 8. Period of Implementation. - The Revitalization and
Capability Enhancement Program under this Act shall be implemented within
ten (10) years: Provided, That payments for amortization of outstanding


multi-year contract obligations incurred under the PNP Revitalization and
Capability Enhancement Program may be extended beyond this period.

SECTION 9. PNP RACE Trust Fund. - There is hereby created a trust
fund, to be known as the PNP RACE Trust Fund. Said Trust Fund, which shall
be used exclusively for the PNP Revitalization and Capability Enhancement
Program, including all necessary expenses to implement equipment
acquisition and upgrading and infrastructure and facilities development shall
be funded out of the following:

a. Appropriations for police capability enhancement and construction of
police stations;

b. Portion of proceeds from the implementation of the National Police
Clearance System;

c. Portion of proceeds of the License to Own and Possess Firearms
License Fees;

d. Proceeds from the disposal of excess and/or uneconomically repairable
equipment and other movable assets of the PNP;

e. Funds from budgetary surplus, if any, as may be authorized by
Congress;

f Donations coming from local and foreign sources, specifically
earmarked to be used for the PNP Revitalization and Capability
Enhancement Program; and

g. All interest income of the Trust Fund.

Funds from the foregoing sources, regardless of income source, shall be
directly deposited to a special account in the general fund created specifically
for the PNP Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program. The
corresponding allotment and cash allocation shall be released directly to the
PNP and transferred to the PNP RACE Trust Fund, and shalll be administered
by the Chief of the PNP in accordance with existing government budgeting
and auditing rules and regulations. The PNP shall conduct periodic studies on
how additional revenues can be generated to fund the PNP Revitalization and
Capability Enhancement Program and how to maximize the utilization of the
trust fund.


SECTION 10. Appropriations for the PNP Revitalization and
Capability Enhancement Program. - The annual appropriations for the
PNP Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program shall include the
amounts necessary to support the funding requirements for the programs,
projects, and activities submitted to Congress under Section 7.

Under the Program, the initial amount necessary to support the funding
requirements for basic equipage fill-up and establishment of standard
infrastructure and basic facilities shall be funded from the existing police
capability enhancement funds, police station construction funds, and such
additional funds as Congress may appropriate thereafter. The PNP
Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program shall be based on an
amount of at least One Hundred Billion Pesos (Php 100,000,000,000.00) for
the full period of implementation.

Whenever deemed necessary, in order to expedite full implementation of
the Program, the Chief of the PNP may, subject to the approval of the
President and consistent with the provisions of existing laws, including
Commission on Audit rules and regulations, under such terms and conditions
most favorable to the government, enter into multi-year contracts and other
contractual arrangements. The Chief of the PNP shall submit to the
Congressional Oversight Committee, the Secretary of the DBM, and the
Secretary of the Department of Finance, copies of these multi-year contracts
and other contractual arrangements to enable Congress to appropriate
necessary funds. For this purpose, Congress shall, upon issuance of a
multi-year obligation authority by the DBM and certification by the President,
make the corresponding appropriations for the ensuing fiscal years, to cover
multi-year obligations.

The funds appropriated by Congress under this Act shall be treated as a
distinct and separate budget item from the regular appropriations for the
PNP.

SECTION 11. Tax Treatment of the Purchase and Importation
of the PNP. - All internal revenue tax and duty obligations from the purchase
and importation of munitions and ordnance, firepower and weapons,
transportation and mobility assets, communication, intelligence, investigative
and forensic equipment and other equipment by the PNP, under the
Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program, where such acquisition
directly or exclusively relates to the performance of its police and law
enforcement functions; or may be needed in public transactions; or in the
pursuit of any government undertaking, shall be chargeable to the tax
expenditure fund provided for in the General Appropriations Act.


Donations made to the PNP to be used actually, directly, and exclusively
for its Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program shall be exempt
from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction
from the gross income of the donor for purposes of computing taxable income
in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of
1997, as amended. Likewise, donations from foreign sources shall be exempt
from value-added tax and customs duties.

SECTION 12. Local Government Support Through Local
Development Plans. - In the formulation of their respective
socio-economic local development programs, all provincial, city, and
municipal development councils shall allocate in their comprehensive land
use plans such adequate, suitable, and accessible lands for the establishment
of basic police infrastructure and support facilities within their areas of
jurisdiction.

Regional Development Councils shall ensure that allocation of such lands
for use of local police forces and other police support units are included in the
approved socio-economic local development programs of provinces and cities
prior to integration into their respective Regional Development Plans and
subsequent submission to the National Economic and Development
Authority.

Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Chief of the PNP shall submit to the NAPOLCOM such guidelines and
parameters governing the allocation of land for the police, for approval and
implementation.

In effecting land allocation for local police forces and other police support
units, local government units may, in addition to making donation and
granting usufruct, enter into negotiated sale or exercise the inherent power of
eminent domain, in accordance with existing laws.

SECTION 13. Local Fund Support for Police Capability
Enhancement. - Provincial, city, and municipal governments may also
allocate funds to augment the capability enhancement and modernization of
the police, within their jurisdiction, and as aligned with their respective
socio-economic development thrusts.

SECTION 14. Land Acquisition and Titling. - Other than through
donation, or in cases where local government units have inadequate,
unsuitable, or inaccessible lots to allocate, the PNP may acquire lands as site
or location for the establishment of standard police infrastructure and basic
and support facilities, and cause the titling thereof under the name of the PNP


or its subordinate police offices and units, as well as right-of-way, through
negotiated sale.

SECTION 15. Engineering and Administrative Overhead (EAO)
and Project Related Expenses. - For construction projects undertaken
under this Act, the PNP is authorized to deduct percentages from the
appropriated funds, to be used for EAO and other project related expenses to
cover lot readiness activities; pre-construction activities after detailed
engineering; construction project management; and contingencies.

The EAO and project related expenses shall be reflected in the program of
work for the police construction project concerned, and treated or booked-up
as capitalized expenditures, to form part of the project cost. The program of
work shall include, but not be limited to, estimates of work items; quantities
and costs, schedule of activities, and disbursements.

Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Chief of the PNP shall prescribe rationalized percentages authorized to be
deducted, and the detailed items of expenditures for its utilization.

SECTION 16. Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is
hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee upon the effectivity of
this Act to monitor and oversee the implementation of the provisions of this
Act.

It shall be composed of four (4) members from the House of
Representatives and four (4) members from the Senate with the Chairpersons
of the Committee on Public Order and Safety and the Committee on Public
Order and Dangerous Drugs of each Chamber, respectively, as Joint
Chairpersons. The three (3) other members, with the inclusion of the
Chairperson of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs, representing the House
of Representatives, shall be designated by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, while the three (3) other members from the Senate shall be
designated by the Senate President. The Minority shall have at least one (1)
representative from each Chamber.

SECTION 17. Program Modification. - In the exigency of the service
or whenever necessary to address unforeseen emergencies to curb
transnational crime; emerging forms of criminality; insurgency, terrorism and
other serious threats to internal security, or to satisfy delivery of public safety
services, the Chief of the PNP may modify, through substitution or revision, a
component project in the Revitalization and Capability Enhancement
Program, subject to the favorable endorsement of the NAPOLCOM, for the
President's approval. Within thirty (30) days from such approval, the Chief of


the PNP shall report such program modification to Congress, through the
Congressional Oversight Committee.

SECTION 18. Fund Augmentation. - During program
implementation, a member of Congress may endorse an equipment for
acquisition and provide fund augmentation, or submit a substitute or
additional infrastructure construction project, with fund augmentation,
subject to existing laws, NAPOLCOM rules and regulations, and PNP policies,
for his congressional district, if a member of the House of Representatives, or
in any congressional district, if a member of the Senate, to be supported out of
their respective Congressional Initiative Allocation or by Congress-introduced
increases in appropriations.

SECTION 19. Annual Reports. - Within the first quarter of the
succeeding year of implementation, the Chief of the PNP shall submit to the
President and Congress, through the Chairperson of the NAPOLCOM, an
annual report on the progress of the implementation of the Revitalization and
Capability Enhancement Program.

SECTION 20. Sunset Review. - After five (5) years following its
effectivity, or as the need arises, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall
conduct a sunset review of this Act, to systematically evaluate the
accomplishments under the Revitalization and Capability Enhancement
Program and its impact on the PNP organizational structure, institutional
mechanisms, and performance of functions, for purposes of determining and
effecting remedial legislation.

SECTION 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty
(60) days from the approval of this Act, the PNP shall, in consultation with the
NAPOLCOM and the DBM, formulate the implementing rules and regulations
for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 22. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any provision
of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 23. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,