BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS & MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – To enhance public safety and security, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the city government are planning to establish four additional police stations.
Colonel Joeresty Coronica, the ICPO director, highlighted that Iloilo City, being a regional center, faces significant demands for policing services, stretching the current personnel thin.
“Alongside Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, we are working on the establishment of new police stations because currently, we only have six, in contrast to Bacolod, which has 10. The ICPO is authorized to create up to four more police stations,” Coronica announced during the 122nd Police Anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
These four police stations will be strategically located near the city hall, Iloilo Business Park (Megaworld) in Mandurriao district, as well as in the Lapuz and La Paz districts.
However, Coronica acknowledged that the expansion of police stations also necessitates increased personnel and budget, which the city government has expressed willingness to provide.
“Realizing these plans will require several years of planning and personnel programming. Approval will not only be sought from our regional headquarters but also from the national headquarters,” Coronica added.
Currently, Iloilo City operates six police stations: Police Station 1 in the City Proper, Police Station 2 in La Paz district, Police Station 3 in Jaro district, Police Station 4 in Molo district, Police Station 5 in Mandurriao, and Police Station 6 in Arevalo district./PN
