BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – An insufficient number of police recruits and a low police-to-population ratio are presenting significant challenges in Western Visayas, impacting law enforcement and public safety, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC).
In its Western Visayas Regional Development Plan for 2023-2028, the RDC highlighted that these issues, particularly prevalent in highly urbanized cities and provinces, stem from restrictive quota allocations and the stringent deployment of new recruits by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Headquarters. These factors significantly hinder efforts to maintain security, public order, and safety across the region.
The police-to-population ratio in Western Visayas, like in other regions of the country, follows the standard set by the PNP, which is typically one police officer for every 500 residents.
As of recent estimates, Western Visayas has a population of approximately eight million people. Hence, if the ideal ratio is one police officer per 500 residents, Region 6 ideally needs around 16,000 police officers to meet the optimal police-to-population ratio.
Likewise, the council noted that although the number of illegal drug-free barangays decreased, the desire for zero illegal drug-affected barangays is unlikely to happen due to the resurgence of drug trafficking in some previously cleared areas. This, despite the intensified anti-illegal drugs operations by composite teams from the PNP and the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The council noted the full implementation of the Barangay Drug Clearing Operations the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Clearing Operations and the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS), and the regular conduct of intelligence validation workshops with another unit for proper and more effective monitoring of drug personalities in the barangays, provided the thrust to the government’s war against drugs.
To establish a foundation for sustainable development, the council noted that the government will have to sustain the protection and development of conflict-affected communities, safeguard the quality of life of people from criminality, and ensure security and safety from hazards and other threats.
“These will be realized through an integrated, transparent, people-centered, and human rights-based peace and security policy, supported by relevant cross-cutting strategies,” the council said.
The protection and development of conflict-affected communities will be sustained through the conclusion of commitment to peace agreements, the council stressed.
“The normalization of lives of former combatants and their families will be hastened. Conflict-affected communities and those encountering threats from terrorism, radicalization, and violent extremism will be given government protection and support,” the council said.
It added that the implementation of the 2000 Peace Agreement with rebel returnees will be honored and pursued until the commitment of peace agreements is concluded. Information, education, and communication campaigns will be advanced to include the values of harmony and patriotism among communities.
Through the training on anti-terrorism campaigns, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the regional police aim to spearhead public forums in urban and rural areas and government and non-government establishments.
They intend to use traditional and new media for greater reach of the population. Training of reserve force units and civilian personnel will also be prioritized to strengthen the capability of the armed forces.
The council said the promotion of peace education would counter the subversive ideals of the communist terrorist groups in the region, particularly those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
“The security sector will safeguard the quality of life of people from criminality. It will be undertaken through a holistic approach to addressing illegal and dangerous drugs. Further, it involves the expansion of police engagements with communities,” the council noted.
Under the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA), the government hopes to facilitate an integrated and human rights-based policy in the eradication of illegal drugs.
The PDEA and the police will continue the anti-illegal drug operations through the arrest of high-value targets and conduct of high-impact operations.
The Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADACs) intends to lead the barangay drug clearing programs in maintaining the accomplishments of previous operations and preventing its resurgence in previously cleared areas.
The council said the visibility of uniformed personnel will be increased and regular capacity-building activities to keep the communities abreast of developments on existing and new laws and regulations.
“The target police-to-population ratio in highly urbanized cities and provinces will be pursued along with increased police patrol assets in terms of patrol cars, troop carriers and motorcycles, and patrol boats,” the council said.
The council said authorities intend to reduce the number of sensational crimes with the concurrent increase with the current increase in the index and non-index crime clearance or solution efficiency rates./PN
