SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday questioned the ₱21-million decrease in the budget for the Philippine National Police (PNP) education and training program, noting that continuous education is vital to the morale and professional development of the police force.

During the Senate budget hearing, Gatchalian pointed out that the PNP’s education program—which includes funding for the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and training centers—saw a significant reduction in its proposed 2026 allocation.

“I noticed that the police education program went down by ₱21 million. Is there any particular reason? I believe this includes the PNPA, and training centers are important not just for continuous education but also for the morale of our force,” the senator said.

PNP Chief Gen. Melencio Nartatez explained that the budget cut corresponds to the lower number of PNPA cadets, which dropped from 1,150 to 1,054 for the 2026 cycle.

“There was a decrease in funding as the number of cadets also decreased—from 1,150 to 1,054 for 2026—and that corresponds to ₱21 million,” Nartatez said.

Gatchalian then asked if the decline in cadet numbers was due to a lack of applicants.

“Is that because no one is applying to become a cadet anymore?” he inquired.

The PNP chief clarified that while the number of applicants remains high, some cadets fail to complete the program due to its rigorous standards.

“The reduction is mainly because as we go along with the program, many cadets drop out due to failure to cope with the standards,” he said. “But in terms of recruitment, there are actually many applicants to the PNPA.”

Gatchalian emphasized the need to sustain investments in police education and training, stressing that a well-trained and well-motivated police force is essential to public safety and effective law enforcement.

“We should continue to strengthen our police education system,” he said, “because every competent officer starts with proper training and continuous learning.”