Mexico City, Mexico – The Mexican government has announced funding of $17.3 billion pesos ($1.36 billion USD) to enable states and municipalities to ensure public safety more efficiently.

The sum represents “the largest amount of funding ever provided in the history of the country to bolster security and justice,” Mexico’s interior minister, Alejandro Poire, reported at a press conference.

Each state and municipal administration will be expected to “show concrete results that guarantee greater safety and security for the entire population,” he said.

“The funds,” he said, “should be used to make sure that police are certified and professionalized, from high commands to operational units.”

Poire said the funds will be forthcoming only if state and local law enforcement agencies’ high commands are certified to comply with a series of requisites guaranteeing their honesty and ability to perform their missions.

Since President Felipe Calderon took office on Dec. 1, 2006, close to 50,000 people have died in the conflict among Mexico’s rival drug cartels and between the criminals and the security forces.

In addition, Poire announced that the federal government will allot more than $12 billion pesos ($940 million USD) for the construction of more courtrooms and to renovate penitentiary infrastructure.