CEBU CITY, Cebu, Sept. 11 (PIA) -- The National Police Commission Region 7 (NAPOLCOM7) and partner law enforcement agencies have been implementing various programs and activities to address the issues of criminality in Central Visayas.

According to NAPOLCOM7, the main approach that they have been integrating towards their crime reduction initiatives is the implementation of the "Community and Service Oriented System" or CSOS.

CSOS is a strategy where the agency, along with the police force, other law enforcement agencies, and the local government units, go down to the barangay level and hold symposiums and consultations with the people to get the public involved with the government’s efforts to stop crimes.

In line with the celebration of this year’s National Crime Prevention Week, NAPOLCOM7 also said that among the strategies they have been doing is recognizing and empowering the five pillars of the criminal justice system involving the law enforcement, prosecution, the court of law, corrections and rehabilitation, and the community.

"Ang nakita nato in terms of crime prevention is that we need to involve the community even in managing sa mga activities sa atong kapulisan and together with the LGUs and other sectors, each LGU is also expected to come up with their own program on how to address peace and order issues in their locality," said NAPOLCOM7 OIC Assistant Regional Director Atty. Risty Sibay during the Kapihan sa PIA interview on Sept. 7.

Based on the data presented by the Police Regional Office (PRO7), the entire region has seen a significant drop in the crime rate from 2021 to 2022.

Central Visayas saw a decrease in reported crime incidents of 3,737 from 29,808 in January to August 2021 to 26,071 in the same period of 2022, or a 12.54% decline in the region's crime volume.

"Nakita natu nga niubos gyud ang atong crime and this is due to the various initiatives which are implemented by our unit in line with our community and service-oriented system" said PRO7 Chief of the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division PCol. Antonietto Canete.

Despite the decreasing crime rate, NAPOLCOM7 and law enforcement agencies will continue to improve their crime reduction strategies, implement more community outreach programs, and bring the government’s services and projects closer to the people through its "Serbisyo Caravan.”

They will also intensify and enhance the presence of the police force in more areas and mobilize other force multipliers to maintain the peace and order of the community.

NAPOLCOM7 fully supports the best practices implemented by different police stations and is looking to further strengthen its partnerships and collaborations with the community, law enforcement agencies, and local chief executives in the region.

"It's high time gyud nga kita magpakabana, so let us all be responsible. The matters in crime prevention are not only the responsibility of the government but it’s a collective and shared responsibility and all our activities are geared towards increasing our awareness as well as letting us know what our roles are towards crime prevention"  Sibay said. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)