Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered all chiefs of police and unit commanders to focus on strategic and proper deployment of personnel as part of the measures to sustain the high trust and satisfaction ratings of the public to the police.

The goal is to provide the needed peace of mind of the people down to the barangay level following the result of the recent survey of Octa Research which showed OCTA Research survey showing that most Filipinos feel secure in their communities.

Based on the survey, 72 percent of Filipinos said they feel safe in their neighborhood, 68 percent said they are not afraid to walk alone at night, and 54 percent said they are not worried about robbers breaking into their homes.

“The recent survey proves that our police visibility, crime prevention, and community engagement efforts are making a difference. However, we will not be complacent because public safety must be felt by every Filipino,” he said.

The survey, conducted from July 4 to 11 with 1,200 respondents, also found that concerns remain strongest when it comes to home security. Twenty-one percent disagreed that they were not worried about break-ins while 25 percent were undecided.

The Visayas recorded the highest confidence in neighborhood safety at 84 percent while the National Capital Region posted the lowest at 58 percent.

For walking alone at night, Balance Luzon registered the highest confidence at 72 percent while NCR again had the lowest at 48 percent. On home security, Balance Luzon had the highest confidence at 61 percent, compared with 44 percent in NCR.

The survey also showed differences across socioeconomic groups as confidence in home security was lower among Class ABC respondents at 48 percent, compared with 55 percent among Classes D and E.

“The recent survey proves that our police visibility, crime prevention, and community engagement efforts are making a difference. However, we will not be complacent because public safety must be felt by every Filipino,” said Nartatez.

He said the focus is to have more people feel secure not only in their homes and communities but also on the streets leading to and from their workplaces.

Nartatez also directed all police regional offices and local units to increase patrols and visibility in communities where residents feel unsafe, especially at night.

“The Philippine National Police hears the concerns of some of our kababayan in relation to peace and order. We will continue to strengthen police presence and crime prevention in your communities,” said Nartatez.

“We urge the public to report suspicious activities and work with their local police because keeping our communities safe is a shared responsibility,” he added.