THE CITY government will request the Philippine National Police (PNP) to augment the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) with an additional of 2,500 police officers to keep up with the growing population in the city.

Mayor Sara Duterte said in the 50th Annual Installation of Officers and Trustees of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. on Friday at SMX Davao Convention Center that the figures have to be increased from the current at 1,700 police officers under DCPO.

“We have about 1.6 million population as of 2015 and we think we have more now,” Duterte said, citing that it is high time to increase the number of those that would secure the growing number of people in the urban center.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recorded that as of 2015, the city posted population of 1.63 million with a growth rate of 2.30% a year.

As of 2012, data from PSA bared that the ratio of police to population was 1:756, or one police officer for every 756 residents, in Davao Region. There were 132 police officers for every 100,000 population in the region.

“To ensure the safety of people and businesses in the city, the city government and the DCPO are working hand-in-hand in providing better and more security logistics,” Duterte said.

In April last year, the city approved to provide around 900 police auxiliaries to the DCPO. But since then, about a hundred of police volunteers quit their post.

“We are also continuing to deploy police auxiliaries to augment the police in patrolling strategic areas throughout the city. We want to keep Davao City’s pride of being the safest city in the country for both people and businesses,” Duterte said.

The issue on the safety and security remained a challenge to attract investors.

European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Guenter Taus said recently in the Mindanao Business Briefing at Seda Abreeza Hotel that the government has to pursue a swift action to address the issue on peace and order situation for the entire Mindanao, which includes Davao.

“As a chamber of commerce, our mandate is to encourage businesses and investors from Europe to consider investment destinations in the Philippines such as Davao. However, I must highlight that it becomes increasingly difficult for us to do so as the peace and order situation continues to remain volatile and the region remains under Martial Law,” Taus said.

But Duterte said the city continued to become a safe haven for investors despite the Martial Law declaration. She said the city government, through the City Tourism Operations Office and Davao City Investment Promotion Center, is also working on a brand campaign to highlight the city as a peaceful destination.

“A series of road shows, targeting foreign chambers of commerce, tourism associations, and embassies, will also be organized to promote the city as a safe and secured choice to invest, live, and play,” Duterte said. (KMF)

Last year, the Japanese government donated 40 Montero vehicles to the PNP, with 26 of the vehicles detailed at the DCPO.

This article was originally published on January 28, 2018 on mindanaotimes.net