PNP Acquires 20 New Toyota Coasters to Boost Operational Capability and Visibility

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is continuing to upgrade its equipment to further boost its operational capability and visibility as the country's police force recently acquired nearly 18,300 newly-procured police equipment worth PHP694 million. Besides the newly-acquired 11,245 bullet-proof vests, 4,169 waistcoat vests, 133 high frequency/single side band manpacks, 700 rotary blade-propelled wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, and 2,000 striker-fired Taurus TS9 pistols, the PNP also acquired 20 Toyota Coaster mini buses. The 29-seater Toyota Coaster retails at PHP3.453 million each, according to Toyota Quezon Avenue. As for the buses' use with the PNP, the agency said it will be distributed to its regional offices and to the PNP-Logistics Support Service "for general dispatch purposes." "The acquisition of police basic equipment intensifies the operational readiness and police visibility of the PNP towards achieving a more capable, effective and credible police force in line with the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to accomplish the mission and functions of the organization," PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde told reporters after the simple turn-over ceremony at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City last Monday, January 14. The 20 Toyota Coaster mini buses are the latest vehicles to be added to the PNP's fleet. In May 2018, the agency took delivery of 130 Hyundai Elantra and Starex vans from the South Korean government, followed by the over 600 Toyota Hiace, Hilux, and Innova units it acquired as part of its PHP1.6 billion budget in June 2018, and the 310 Kawasaki Versys motorcycle units it received in August 2018 as part of the  agency's PHP2.146 billion Capability Enhancement Program.