Laoag Mayor James Bryan Alcid meets with barangays tanods and barangay officials headed by Laoag ABC President Rbee Ablan, Schools Division Superintendent Joan Corpuz, chief of police Lt. Col. Ryan Retotar and CDRRM officer Dr. Melvin Manuel for a stricter implementation of peace and order both in public and private schools in the city to avoid crimes and other illegal activities that might occur. (Photo by Mr. Larry Pedralvez)
By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter
Laoag City—To
ensure public safety and protect residents from crime, the city government of
Laoag has asked Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., chief of the
Philippine National Police, to deploy 106 additional police personnel to meet
the ideal 1:500 police-to-population ratio and bolster security across 80
barangays and 64 schools.
Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas said Laoag covers
12,747.35 hectares and comprises 80 barangays, 40 public schools and 24 private
schools, all of which require adequate police visibility to safeguard
communities, students and educational institutions.
Fariñas noted that Laoag serves as the economic,
political, educational and religious center of Ilocos Norte, attracting an
estimated daytime population of about 20,000 people because of workers,
students, business patrons and visitors from neighboring municipalities and
provinces.
He added that major higher-education institutions located
in the city—Mariano Marcos State University, Northwestern University, Northern
Christian College, Divine Word College of Laoag, Data Center College of the
Philippines, AMA Computer College and STI Laoag—serve not only city residents
but also students from adjoining areas. Laoag International Airport, which
handles domestic and international flights for tourists and returning
residents, also contributes significantly to the city’s daytime population and
economic activity.
Fariñas said two Public Assistance Center (PAC) stations
funded by the local government—one in Barangay 5 within the university belt and
another in Barangay 13 (NSD Visitacion) near Divine Word College along Gen.
Segundo Avenue—remain unmanned because of the PNP manpower shortage,
compromising police visibility and slowing response times during emergencies.
He warned that the personnel shortage hampers law
enforcement visibility, rapid response and crime deterrence, especially given
Laoag’s increasing urbanization, economic activity and population growth —
factors that raise the risk of theft, robbery, drug-related offenses, traffic
violations and other crimes.
“The mental and psychological peace of the populace is
directly affected by the adequacy of law enforcement presence, as visible
patrols and sufficient manpower provide assurance of safety and reduce fear of
crime,” he added.
Augmenting police personnel, Fariñas said, would not only
strengthen crime prevention but also improve disaster response, traffic
management and community-policing programs—all essential in a growing urban
center like Laoag City.
The city government also requested additional mobile
patrol vehicles—cars and motorcycles—equipped with accessories such as mobile
radios, blinkers and identification stickers for police patrollers.
Laoag Councilor Donald Nicolas said maintaining peace and
order and protecting life and property are primary concerns of both the local
government and the PNP. He noted that the Laoag City Police Station is mandated
to conduct regular and effective patrols to deter crime, respond promptly to
calls for help and ensure the safety of residents and visitors. He added that
the existing patrol vehicles and motorcycles are no longer sufficient to cover
the growing population and increasing demands for police visibility and
response.
Nicolas said the lack of patrol vehicles hampers the
speed and efficiency of police responses to emergencies, distress calls and
criminal incidents, thereby affecting overall peace and order in the city.
At the second Quarterly Meeting of the City Peace and
Order Council on June 25, 2026, Laoag City PNP formally requested additional
patrol cars and motorcycles complete with mobile radios for real-time
communication, blinkers for visibility during emergency response, and stickers
for proper identification—tools that would significantly improve operational
capability and responsiveness.
Nicolas said it is the duty of the Sangguniang
Panlungsod, in exercising its mandate to promote the general welfare and ensure
public safety, to support and assist the local police force in acquiring the
necessary equipment to perform its duties effectively.
Comments
Post a Comment