Bacolod police upbeat on five-minute response
Published Jul 8, 2025 04:26 pm
BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office remains optimistic about meeting the national directive for a five-minute police response amid traffic and limited resources.
The BCPO recently conducted a simulation exercise witnessed by Mayor Greg Gasataya and Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) chief, to test the responsiveness of law enforcement and assess the effectiveness of current deployment strategies.
Random sites – including Bangga Cory in Barangay Taculing and Komisyonan Sibucao in Barangay Banago – were picked by local officials and media.
Police reached designated locations in under five minutes.
Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod City police director, however, acknowledged that traffic remains the primary hurdle, especially since four-wheel patrol vehicles are still primarily used despite the availability of motorcycles.
Gasataya, in a press briefing on July 7, stressed the city’s commitment to long-term improvements in traffic management.
He noted the need to upgrade and reprogram traffic lights and directed the City Engineer’s Office and Traffic Division to identify areas needing new traffic signals.
“If we can’t meet the five-minute target due to traffic, it’s understandable,” Coronica said.
He believes the five-minute response time remains attainable despite difference in scale and resources. “If we fail to meet that response time without valid reasons, then there’s a problem,” he said.
Coronica said resources are limited, especially in terms of mobility and personnel. He said this city has only 10 police stations, compared to 79 in other districts. “But with the right attitude, we can do more,” he added.
He instructed patrollers to be deeply familiar with their assigned areas to minimize response time, rather than randomly roaming.
To address mobility, the Bacolod police revived its Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operatives and Tactical Motorcycle Units, along with deploying motorcycle patrols under station-level units and the Mobile Patrol Unit.
Coronica emphasized that the goal is achievable as long as resources are maximized and strategies are aligned.
BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office remains optimistic about meeting the national directive for a five-minute police response amid traffic and limited resources.
The BCPO recently conducted a simulation exercise witnessed by Mayor Greg Gasataya and Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) chief, to test the responsiveness of law enforcement and assess the effectiveness of current deployment strategies.
Random sites – including Bangga Cory in Barangay Taculing and Komisyonan Sibucao in Barangay Banago – were picked by local officials and media. Police reached designated locations in under five minutes.
Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod City police director, however, acknowledged that traffic remains the primary hurdle, especially since four-wheel patrol vehicles are still primarily used despite the availability of motorcycles.
Gasataya, in a press briefing on July 7, stressed the city’s commitment to long-term improvements in traffic management.
He noted the need to upgrade and reprogram traffic lights and directed the City Engineer’s Office and Traffic Division to identify areas needing new traffic signals.
“If we can’t meet the five-minute target due to traffic, it’s understandable,” Coronica said.
He believes the five-minute response time remains attainable despite difference in scale and resources. “If we fail to meet that response time without valid reasons, then there’s a problem,” he said.
Coronica said resources are limited, especially in terms of mobility and personnel. He said this city has only 10 police stations, compared to 79 in other districts. “But with the right attitude, we can do more,” he added.
He instructed patrollers to be deeply familiar with their assigned areas to minimize response time, rather than randomly roaming.
To address mobility, the Bacolod police revived its Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operatives and Tactical Motorcycle Units, along with deploying motorcycle patrols under station-level units and the Mobile Patrol Unit.
Coronica emphasized that the goal is achievable as long as resources are maximized and strategies are aligned.