By Aaron Recuenco
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is supporting proposal to limit the population of all barangays, especially in urban areas, to a maximum of 15,000.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the proposal under House Bill 6686 being pushed by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is big boost in terms of manageability of peace and order agenda of the police.
Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. General Bernard Banac (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“By limiting the population of each Barangay to 15,000 we are enabling the smallest unit of local government with uniform standard of governance to enforce local ordinances,” said Banac.
“The proposed measure also syncs well with modern policing systems aided by technology that factors geographical information and demographics with crime data as bases for deployment of forces,” he added.
Barbers made the proposal with the government’s response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) at the backdrop. He cited the delay in the distribution of relief items and cash assistance as one of the major reasons there is a need to restructure the barangays.
Experts, however, attributed the delay to lack of systematic distribution plan that include updated list of the poor, as well as the distrust on barangay officials.
The restructuring of barangay by setting its population limit is expected to result in the creation of more barangays, which means that more barangay officials would be elected.
But for Banac, the proposal is an advantage as far as public safety and law enforcement are concerned.
‘The long term implementation of this law further supports the program of government to decongest the urban centers by introducing development and equal opportunities to the provinces,” said Banac.