BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – The 30th National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW) has commenced, spearheaded by Atty. Jerome Asuga, the director of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) in Region 6.
Themed “Kabataan Tara Na, sa Crime Prevention Kaisa Ka!” the September 1 to 7 observance focuses on engaging the youth in crime prevention strategies.
Asuga emphasized the role of young people in crime prevention during his opening address.
“This year, we are zeroing in on the youth. We plan to collaborate with the Department of Education (DepEd) to facilitate orientations on crime prevention at the school level,” he said.
The aim is to empower students and enhance community awareness about reporting crimes, particularly those involving young victims of sexual violence and cybercrime.
The collaboration with DepEd has already seen preliminary discussions, with agreements made last year to set the stage for this year’s program.
“Following the directives from the NAPOLCOM Central Office, we engaged early with the DepEd Regional Director to integrate crime prevention orientations in schools,” said Asuga.
Furthering their educational outreach, NAPOLCOM plans to work closely with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to prioritize orientations for Parents-Teachers-Students Associations (PTSAs).
“Our focus with CHED will be to strengthen the crime prevention and reporting framework within the PTSA community,” he added.
Stressing the importance of familial support in crime prevention, Asuga said fostering a strong family culture is vital.
“Often, crime suspects are relatives of the victims. Strengthening family ties and awareness can empower children to report crimes and reduce victimization,” he said.
The initiative, pending DepEd’s approval, will also allow police to conduct detailed orientations for parents and teachers in schools, ensuring that the message of crime prevention is effectively conveyed to students./PN
