P2.4B for new NBI headquarters OK'd

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will soon have its new home after the approval of the P2.4-billion budget for the purpose.

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos announced this during the 87th-anniversary celebration of the bureau on Monday, held at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

He said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), through the efforts of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, gave the NBI a «multi-year authority» for a P2.4-billion budget for the construction of its new headquarters.

«Our budget for next year was increased by 63 percent compared to this year,» de Lemos said.

With the increase in budget, he said, the NBI now has the funds to cover the costs to be incurred for the construction of its new headquarters, the salaries for new hires and the expenses for training new agents.

Further, the NBI chief said they also have at their disposal the funds to upgrade their intelligence and investigative tools and equipment.

«We have a budget of P1.856 billion for capital outlay for 2024, and a budget of P1.587 billion is allotted for our ICT software and another P255 million for ICT equipment,» de Lemos said.

He announced that P57 million was earmarked for a two-story building for their NBI Cemro in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

In addition, P30 million has been allotted for the acquisition of new vehicles and P5 million for ammunition.

«We now have the funds to allow the NBI to truly expand its human resources and to modernize,» said de Lemos.