Cops to launch ‘discipline zones’ in Cebu City
Police are looking at declaring two areas in Cebu City as “discipline zones” -- places with no graffiti, mendicancy, illegal vendors, and traffic congestion – as part of efforts to develop a more livable city environment.
Police Regional Office-7 officials are initially considering the stretch of Osmeña Boulevard and an area in Barangay Apas, Cebu City as pilot discipline zones for now, but they hope to eventually replicate the idea in the jurisdictions of all police stations across the city.
“I directed each station to identify one area to be declared as a discipline zone where we will see walang graffiti, walang mendicancy, walang vendors walang traffic congestion,” Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, PRO-7 director, told reporters yesterday.
“One pilot area is ang haba ng Fuente Osmeña, at another area is yung sa Apas, Lahug. Those are the two identified pilot areas that we will declare as discipline zones through the help of Mayor (Tomas Osmeña) and the barangay chairmen,” he added.
Anticipating resistance from sectors that may be affected by the move, especially the vendors, Espino said police will hold a dialogue with them first.
“Ang initial move is organization, then dialogue lahat ng affected groups para walang resistance once i-launch yun,” Espino said. “Yung huling phase is consolidation and maintenance during those phases. Itatalaga ang police natin dun and yung stakeholders will really have to maintain yung discipline zone.”
As early as now, Chief Inspector Maria Theresa Macatangay, chief of Cebu City Police Office Station 2 or the Fuente police, is seeking the coordination of local officials to ensure that the program will not be short-lived.
“It will be a challenge not just to us from the station, but also to the rest of the participating community stakeholders,” she said.
On the part of the police, more personnel under the existing beat patrol system will be deployed in the discipline zones to maintain peace and order.
Meanwhile, in the spirit of Christmas, Espino has also tasked his personnel to identify areas with problematic traffic during rush hours and assist traffic personnel there in maintaining a smooth traffic flow.
“We will be identifying yung mga areas na may traffic congestion. We will help the city and in directing the traffic in those areas. Not only will we be focusing on crime prevention but also on traffic congestion,” Espino said.