THE Korean Embassy and the Korean Police National Agency have turned over more than 130 police patrol cars to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday afternoon.
Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man led the turnover of 49 Hyundai Elantra cars and 81 Starex vans to PNP chief Director Oscar Albayalde at the QCPD grandstand in Camp Karingal in Quezon City.
Of the 81 units of Starex vans, 49 are marked as PNP vehicles.
In an interview with reporters, Albayalde admitted there are a shortage of cars for the PNP, with some stations in the National Capital Region which do not have police car or even a motorbike.
The donations are part of the “Enhancing the Criminal Investigation Capability of the Philippine National Police” project, a joint agreement between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Korean Embassy in 2014.
The Korean Embassy, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, provided a fund of $6.6 million dollars for the six-year project starting 2015.
The project aims to promote a safer and more secure environment conducive to national development and a stronger relationship between Korea and the Philippines, Dong-man said.
In his speech, Dong-man said the cars are meant to help maintain peace and order in Metro Manila, and intensify the criminal investigation and security management capacity of the PNP.
Dong-man said the donations are also a form of gratitude for the heroism of more than 7,000 Filipino soldiers during the Korean war in 1950.