1.    REFERENCES:

1. Republic Act No. 6975 as amended by R.A. 8551;
   
   
2. DRD Memorandum Circular No. 2008-01 dated August 8, 2008, entitled: Guidelines in the Issuance and Disposition of the Certificate of Conformity for Police Uniform and Individual Equipment; and
   
   
3. PNP LOI 06/09 œTamang Bihis Alpha  dated February 12, 2009.

2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

This policy is intended to provide a system for Field Testing of Police Uniforms and Equipment.

3.    OBJECTIVES:

1. To provide a clear cut policy on field testing procedures of police uniforms and equipment in order to prevent abuse by enterprising suppliers;
   
   
2. Ensure that all uniforms for use of PNP uniformed personnel have passed the standard specifications set forth in the approved NAPOLCOM resolutions; and
   
   
3. Determine the durability, usability and comfortability of police uniforms and other items.

4.    POLICIES:

1. All Police uniforms and equipment shall be subjected to thorough field testing.
   
   
2. Uniforms and equipment for field testing shall be issued to concerned PNP end-users prescribing a period for their respective use prior to feedback and assessment.
   
   
3. PNP personnel shall not purchase police uniforms and equipment from manufacturers, dealers, distributors and sellers while still in the process of field testing.
   
   
4. Police uniforms and equipment that fail the field test shall be returned to the proponents to prevent its further usage.
   
   
5. Only police uniforms and equipment that have passed the field testing satisfactorily shall be allowed for use by PNP personnel, upon final approval by the UESB by its standards/specifications.

5.    PROCEDURES:

1. Proponents shall submit prototype PNP uniforms and equipment for field testing after the items and equipment submitted have complied to the approved specifications and have passed the test and evaluation conducted by PNP authorized testing institution.
   
   
2. The DRD and the proponent shall enter into a written agreement containing the following:
   
   1) The proponent shall shoulder the production of uniforms for field testing:
   
   2) The production of the prototypes still undergoing the field testing process shall be put on hold by the PNP, hence, manufacturer is not authorized to sell and distribute the same; and
   
   3) Mass production of uniforms and items, which have undergone field testing, shall only commence after the approval of its standard specifications.
   
   
3. The DRD shall determine who will be the target end-users for the field testing, distribute the proto-type police uniforms and equipment for field testing (with tags of œFOR FIELD TEST ) together with the corresponding survey questionnaires.
   
   
4. Survey shall be conducted to assess feedbacks from selected PNP end-users.
   
   
5. Clothing Criminalistics and Equipment Division (CCED) of DRD will determine the timeline and prepare the survey questionnaire on the field testing of PNP uniforms and equipment.
   
   
6. Responses from the end-users through the survey questionnaires on the results of field testing shall be validated by the DRD which shall be the basis if the uniform and equipment have passed the field test satisfactorily. Likewise, police uniforms and other items which have undergone field testing with changes, modifications or improvement on the design shall be re-evaluated in accordance with the same procedure to ensure its durability, usability and comfortability.
   
   
7. All findings and its corresponding recommendation shall be submitted to the Secretariat, Uniform and Equipment Standardization Board (UESB) thru the Director for Research and Development (DRD) for deliberation and subsequent approval of the Chief, PNP.

6.    RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. a. Directorate for Research and Development
   
   1) Prepare survey questionnaires to be answered by target PNP end-users of police uniforms and equipment under field testing.
   
   2) Issue proto-type uniforms and equipment for field testing to PNP end-users guided by the conditions, existing policies, rules and regulations and policy of the PNP.
   
   3) Monitor feedbacks, tabulate and consolidate survey questionnaires on police uniforms and equipment undergoing field testing.
   
   4) Assess, evaluate and recommend possible changes, modifications or improvements in the design of the police uniforms and equipment based on responses from end-users.
   
   
2. Chiefs of Offices/Units
   
   1) Chiefs of offices/units tasked to field test police uniforms and equipment shall be responsible in coordinating with DRD regarding the field testing of uniforms and identify subordinates who will be using the item or uniform within the timeline provided;
   
   2) Supervise effectively the conduct of field testing for police uniform and equipment and ensure that all survey questionnaires are well-accomplished;
   
   3) Ensure that uniforms on field test are properly and regularly used and maintain a record of every uniform on field test and distribute the survey questionnaire to individual end-user for data fill-up;
   
   4) Heads of offices and unit commanders who are recipients of the uniforms for field testing are responsible in accomplishing the survey questionnaire based on personal observations.
   
   5) Render report on the result of field testing immediately after the timeline have elapsed.

7. PENAL CLAUSE:

Any violation of this Memorandum Circular shall be a ground for administrative action, without prejudice to the filing of appropriate criminal charges, if warranted, against the negligent and erring PNP personnel and individuals for violation of pertinent laws.

8. REPEALING CLAUSE:

This Memorandum Circular shall supersede all existing memoranda, directives and other issuances contrary thereto.

9. EFFECTIVITY:

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days from filing of copies thereof at the University of the Philippines Law Center in consonance with Sections 3 and 4, Chapter 2, Book VII of EO No. 292, otherwise known as œThe Administrative Code of 1987, as amended .

Adopted: 20 Jan. 2010

(SGD.) JESUS A VERZOSA, CEO VI
Police Director General
Chief, PNP