The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have teamed up with South Korea to develop a unified crime data system aimed at modernizing police investigations and improving law enforcement operations across the country.
The partnership was formalized on Thursday through the signing of the Records of Discussion among the DILG, PNP, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for the implementation of the Criminal Investigation Data Management and Analysis System, or CIDMAS.
The DILG said the new system will integrate crime investigation databases into a single platform, replacing fragmented processes that often require repeated data encoding, manual verification, and slower information-sharing among police units.
Once operational, CIDMAS is expected to give investigators faster access to critical case information, improve monitoring and coordination, strengthen crime analysis, and support quicker case resolution and prevention efforts.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla thanked the South Korean government for its continued support, citing the long-standing partnership between Manila and Seoul.
“It shows that today, wherever our fortunes may go, for whatever happens, our countries go a long way. Korea and the Philippines remain partners. And we shall remain partners no matter what happens,” Remulla said.
Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa also praised the DILG and PNP for their Safer Cities Initiative, noting that crime incidents dropped by more than 16 percent during the first 43 days of its implementation.
The agreement was signed by Remulla, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., KOICA Philippines Director Jung Youngsun, KOICA Deputy Country Director Lee Hwayeon, and PNP acting Director for Investigation and Detective Management Police Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay.
DILG Assistant Secretary Lilian De Leon, officials of KOICA and the Korean Embassy, and PNP representatives also witnessed the ceremonial signing.
The DILG said the project forms part of broader efforts to make police work more data-driven, coordinated, and responsive to emerging public safety challenges.