In 2018, Baguio City was declared to be the sixth safest city in Southeast Asia according to collective online database Numbeo. Right now, the city remains to have one of the lowest crime rates in the country—and the numbers are still on a steady decline.
From 2017 to 2018, index crimes which include theft, robbery, murder, homicide, physical injuries, and rape reduced by 42 % in the city according to the Philippine News Agency. In the first quarter of 2019, the Baguio City Police Office reported another 24.7% drop. The city continues to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for its residents and visitors alike. But, the effort doesn’t rest on one organization alone. Here are three main reasons why Baguio City remains to have one of the lowest crime rates in the country.
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Joint Effort Between the Police and the Community
Fighting crime is not only one organization’s job. It’s also the responsibility of the community. In Baguio City, the joint effort between the police and the community has greatly helped it to keep crime rates as low as it can be. Both the local government and different sectors of society pledge their full support to the programs of the police force such as the “Keep All of Baguio Safe and Thriving” (KABSAT) Project. This joint effort can also be seen in the volunteerism and the individual efforts that each barangay employs to keep their areas safe.
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Disciplined Law Enforcers
Earlier in 2019, the Regional Internal Affairs Office of the Pollice Regional Office hailed the Cordillera policemen to be among the top three most disciplined in the country according to the Herald Express. This is backed up by the fact that among the 6,224 men in the force, only 1.6% of them have been subjected to charges. More than that, this attitude has also been proven by their relentless and persevering efforts to keep the city in peace and order that range from good police visibility to quick responsiveness.
Photo by Brian Evans/Flickr
Progressive Safety Programs
Aside from improving already existing safety policies and programs, Baguio City also seeks to create more measures to ensure safety and order in the city. This includes reintroducing tourist cops during the tourist seasons and setting up security cameras and surveillance devices around the city. According to Inquirer, this surveillance system would have an artificial intelligence system incorporated into it that would have facial recognition software to help monitor the city, thus contributing to lowered crime rates.