BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO

With rising crime reports across several regions, including Metro Manila and parts of Luzon and Mindanao, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is ramping up efforts to improve police visibility nationwide, following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Many Filipinos, like 70-year-old Dahlia Losnong, feel uneasy about their families’ safety at night. “I wait by the gate until my children come home. I worry because there are so many crimes happening,” she said.

To address these concerns, DILG Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla emphasized the importance of aligning the police force’s actions with the public’s need for safety.

“The president wants the connection between the people and the police to be real and felt. Right now, it seems like they’re living in different worlds. That has to change,” said Remulla. “People should feel safe when they wake up and go to sleep, when they go to work, and even when they walk at night.”

The DILG noted crime volume increases in NCR, Region 4, Region 7, Region 3, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“NCR tops the list because of population density. The number of people affects crime occurrence, so we’re focusing more resources there,” Remulla explained.

In Baguio, local police say heightened visibility makes a big difference in crime prevention.

PMaj. Marcy Grace Marron of BCPO affirmed that residents are more at ease when police presence is consistent and visible.

In addition, the DILG is working to revise performance evaluation criteria for police officers to better reflect how effectively they respond to crimes.

Remulla said, “It’s time we change the way we evaluate police performance so the public can really feel the improvements.”

Collaboration between the DILG and the Philippine National Police continues in hopes of further reducing crime across the country.