MANILA, Philippines – It’s called Oplan Dignity.

The latest in the series of reforms set for the Philippine National Police (PNP) is an attempt to rehabilitate 1,700 police stations across the country.

The aim: presentable stations to “bring dignity back” among policemen and enhance public perception of the office and the police.

“It’s difficult if [police stations] have no rest place, ventilation, or roofing. It’s just improvements, not a full construction. This is just to restore dignity in there work place,” Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said on Friday, August 2.

Roxas said the minimum amount for each police station would be P100,000 each, but will depend on the size of the station.

The government has allotted P170 million for the repairs.

Roxas said police chiefs will be shown a list of things or items they can choose to renovate.

“They will be given a menu wherein they can choose how to use the budget. For example, if they fix one roof, the cost is P650 per square meter, along with the GI sheet, insulation and support,” he explained. “A toilet for example, cost P1,030 per stall.”

Roxas hopes that along with the improved appearance and perception of the police, it will encourage cops to perform better as well.

The Aquino administration also continues to build housing for policemen.

Just last month, the PNP came one step closer to its goal of having one firearm for every policeman after President Benigno Aquino III turned over the 1st two tranches of the total 74,879 purchased Glock 17 Generation 4 pistols to the police.

The distribution is part of the PNP Capability Enhancement Program, the Aquino administration’s efforts to fight crime by upgrading the 148,000-strong police force’s capabilities. – Rappler.com