The Philippine National Police marked another milestone in the history of the police anti-crime campaign as PNP Chief, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr led top police officials in the formal inauguration of the new five-storey headquarters of the PNP Anti-Cyber Crime Group on Wednesday.
“We laud the past and present leadership of ACG for embarking on changes and innovations geared towards leading the group to greater heights, including the construction of this cutting-edge building that boasts a resilient and robust cybercrime response which is set to be the home of our Cyber Cops,” PGen Azurin said.
“Indeed, this state-of-the-art facility which is considered at par with the cybercrime units of our foreign counterparts is very crucial to the requirements of the country’s cyber cops as they need to keep pace with the ever-changing peace and security environment, and on responding to cyber security threats, computer-related crimes, and other content-related offenses,” PGen Azurin added.
Proposal for the construction of the ACG and other buildings were initially discussed on August 24, 2016. Thereafter, the PNP Engineering Service (ES) prepared the building plan for their construction.
In support to the necessary changes and upgrading related to the operations of PNP, the Office of the President through the Executive Secretary on September 11, 2019, signed a Memorandum to cover the Infrastructure Component of the Secured, Mobile, Al-Driven, Real-Time Technology-Driven (S.M.A.R.T.) Policing Project which states that ACG was one of the recipients of the approved funds in the amount of Php103,922,823.31 aligned for the construction of the five-storey building with a covered roof deck.
After a thorough bidding process in February 2020, the contract for the project was awarded to T.N. Ramos Construction and Development Corporation. The company was given a timeline of 420 days for the completion of the infrastructure.
The spiking of the pandemic in March 2020 interrupted the construction, but in June 2020, although with some restrictions, the project holders and workers managed to regain their momentum and to carry on with the project in coordination and supervision of PNP ACG.
“To the Men and Women of PNP-ACG, I ask all of you to carry on with your integrity, professionalism, and inspiring courage as you continue to make a difference by serving and protecting the people in the Cyber Realm, especially in strengthening cyber security towards a safer cyber environment for the Filipino people to live, work, and do business in,” PGen Azurin said.
