THE Makati Police Department and the Makati Public Safety
Department are jointly implementing the round-the-clock Integrated Patrol and
Commuters' Safety Zone project in a bid to deter criminals from preying on
night-shift workers and commuters.
The integrated patrol plan launched yesterday involves five
commuter safety zones and 15 teams of uniformed policemen and traffic personnel
working the beat side-by-side at Makati's business district and surrounding
areas.
"This project is designed to protect employees and commuters
especially those working during night and graveyard shift against criminal
elements such as snatching and robbery-holdup gangs," Makati chief of police
Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz said in yesterday's launching attended by Southern
Police District director Luizo Ticman, MAPSA director Hermenegildo San Miguel
and representatives from the business community.
Cruz said the integrated patrol centers would be established
along Guadalupe Loyola, Paseo de Roxas-Buendia (Gil Puyat), Makati Avenue-JP
Rizal, Ayala-Buendia, Buendia-Pasong Tamo, Makati Avenue-Buendia, Buendia-South
Superhighway, Ayala-Paseo, Ayala-Hotel Drive, JP Rizal-Sampaguita-Comembo,
Makati Avenue-Paseo, Pasong Tamo-Arnaiz, Buendia-Bautista, Makati Avenue-Ayala
and Pasong Tamo-Mantrade.
The five commuter safety zones are located at Buendia-Pasong
Tamo, Ayala Avenue-Buendia, Makati Avenue-Buendia, Buendia-South Superhighway
and at 6750 Ayala Avenue.
Cruz said the idea is to saturate the area with increased
police visibility to deter crimes and to increase the response time of the
authorities in case of emergencies. "Our response to crimes will now be faster
since MAPSA will no longer have to call for police assistance should the need
arise because the police is already there with them in their regular patrol
duties.
One policeman on beat patrol will be accompanied by at least
two MAPSA personnel, said San Miguel. He said the joint patrols would also
respond to traffic accidents and other incidents in their respective localities.
Data from the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP)
showed that as of April 2008, Makati had the highest number of BPO and call
centers in the country with at least 146 BPOs and 72 call centers, followed by
Pasig with 73 BPOs and 44 call centers, and Quezon City with 63 BPOs and 34 call
centers. - Ashzel Hachero
