Davao City Police Office Director, Police Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum (Robby Joy D. Salveron/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) launched on Monday, October 2, a new operation plan to counter crimes in residential areas and establishments, aiming to empower the community to participate in crime prevention.
The Oplan Iron Fortification of Residences Towards a Restful Environment that is Secured and Safe (FORTRESS) is a community-based awareness program focusing on private residences and subdivisions.
The launching was part of the Crime Prevention Week Summit held at the Grand Menseng Hotel here.
DCPO Chief Police Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum said there is a sudden change of crime pattern from streets to exclusive areas, noting that the current problem was due to security enforcers’ focus on city streets or public convergence areas. He said security patrols and Task Force Davao are restricted in private residences and exclusive areas.
Tagum attributed the “sudden change” to the Oplan Integrated Revitalized Operation of Neighborhood-Watch of the Mega City (IRON City) launched in June 2017. He said the operation plan, which deployed 900 police auxiliaries, reduced the city’s crime rate by 38.7 percent.
Police data show that, from January to September this year, a total of 247 street crimes were reported, slightly lower than the 634 crime incidents in residential areas and 407 in establishments.
With the Oplan IRON FORTRESS, the DCPO is eyeing to “maximize resources” from stakeholders in the community to extend efforts in crime prevention down to households and establishment levels.
Presented with the new strategy, barangay captains, homeowners’ association presidents and officers, and security officers of all malls, hotels and resorts in the city will be playing a big role in the program.
It will be composed of three parts, namely call to action, community empowerment and public awareness.
Each part is composed of different activities such as community meetings, training-seminars, organization of “ronda” (round) system, and information dissemination of “personal, family and home manual”, and contingency checklist to avoid crimes.(davaotoday.com)
