Manila Times
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Sunday, Sep 07, 2025
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Philippine National Police to Close Police Boxes and Community Precincts
PNP chief announces shift to emergency response via mobile phones and reduced police working hours.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) plans to close police boxes and police community precincts (PCPs) in Metro Manila as part of a strategic move to enhance public emergency response through the 911 hotline.
During a press conference on June 4, 2025, PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III stated that the closures are based on the premise that the public can access police services through mobile phones, negating the necessity of physical police outposts where little investigative activity occurs.
Torre emphasized the importance of police visibility and responsiveness, advocating for officers to patrol on foot or in patrol cars equipped with radios rather than remaining stationed in low-activity areas.
He stated, "Don’t bother looking for the police at the station because we are already on your phones.
Dial 911, and we will arrive within five minutes.
That is our promise, and we will make it happen."
In an effort to improve response times, the PNP aims to reduce their current five-minute emergency response window to three minutes in the upcoming months.
Following a command conference held on June 3, Torre has instructed regional police commanders to systematically implement this initiative within their jurisdictions.
Addressing operational efficiency, Torre highlighted the need for enhanced readiness and the modernization of police services.
He mandated improvements in radio communication infrastructure to ensure seamless coordination during emergencies and initiated a comprehensive assessment of police equipment.
To increase police presence and community coverage, all patrol vehicles will be maximized for deployment.
Starting immediately, the PNP will implement an eight-hour workday for police personnel to enhance the quality of service provided by officers.
Torre explained the rationale behind this change, noting that the existing 12-hour shifts and limited time off result in excessive working hours compared to the standard labor guidelines of 40 hours per week.
He remarked, "I will really enforce the eight-hour duty for our police force.
Why?
Because they are human too, not machines, and I don’t want to see police officers sleeping on the job."
Overall, these developments reflect a significant shift in operational strategy for the PNP, focused on ensuring that officers are more accessible to the public and can respond more effectively to emergencies.
During a press conference on June 4, 2025, PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III stated that the closures are based on the premise that the public can access police services through mobile phones, negating the necessity of physical police outposts where little investigative activity occurs.
Torre emphasized the importance of police visibility and responsiveness, advocating for officers to patrol on foot or in patrol cars equipped with radios rather than remaining stationed in low-activity areas.
He stated, "Don’t bother looking for the police at the station because we are already on your phones.
Dial 911, and we will arrive within five minutes.
That is our promise, and we will make it happen."
In an effort to improve response times, the PNP aims to reduce their current five-minute emergency response window to three minutes in the upcoming months.
Following a command conference held on June 3, Torre has instructed regional police commanders to systematically implement this initiative within their jurisdictions.
Addressing operational efficiency, Torre highlighted the need for enhanced readiness and the modernization of police services.
He mandated improvements in radio communication infrastructure to ensure seamless coordination during emergencies and initiated a comprehensive assessment of police equipment.
To increase police presence and community coverage, all patrol vehicles will be maximized for deployment.
Starting immediately, the PNP will implement an eight-hour workday for police personnel to enhance the quality of service provided by officers.
Torre explained the rationale behind this change, noting that the existing 12-hour shifts and limited time off result in excessive working hours compared to the standard labor guidelines of 40 hours per week.
He remarked, "I will really enforce the eight-hour duty for our police force.
Why?
Because they are human too, not machines, and I don’t want to see police officers sleeping on the job."
Overall, these developments reflect a significant shift in operational strategy for the PNP, focused on ensuring that officers are more accessible to the public and can respond more effectively to emergencies.
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