PDEA's K9s Face Budget Shortfall for Training and Care

MANILA, Philippines — PhilReca party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus on Wednesday objected to what he described as the “very low” proposed allocation in next year’s budget for the training and care of Narcotic Detection Dogs or K9s under the care of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). According to De Jesus, the role played by the PDEA’s K9 unit in uncovering illegal drug syndicates is significant. He pointed out that the proposed budget for 2027 does not adequately address the health and effective training of these dogs. The proposed P2.9 million budget for 240 working dogs translates to approximately P12,000 per dog annually. De Jesus argued that this amount is insufficient to cover expenses such as dog food, veterinary care, training equipment, and personnel costs for handlers. PDEA utilizes its K9 units in various operations, including cargo inspections at airports and seaports, vehicle checkpoints, and undercover operations in urban areas. These dogs are crucial in detecting minute quantities of illegal drugs that human officers might miss, contributing significantly to numerous successful drug busts. De Jesus strongly urged for an increase in the budget, emphasizing that the welfare and operational readiness of the narcotic detection dogs are directly linked to national security. Information Source: Inquirer NewsInfo