MinDA survey says Caraga is a safe place
By Renelle Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY – Public satisfaction on the security and stability of the Caraga region is on a very high 91.2 percent according to the 3rd quarter survey conducted by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
The 3rd quarter survey under the Mindanao Trust, Respect, and Safety Study (MTRSS) was presented to the Police Regional Office-13 (PRO-13) on January 11.
MinDA Public Relations chief, Dr. Adrian M. Tamayo, disclosed that “on the whole, Caraga enjoyed impressive public satisfaction on the account of stability in terms of trust and respect,” which rated at 91.2 percent with safety and security as the region’s strong drivers.”
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MinDA thoroughly
discussed the statistics and analysis of the Mindanao Trust, Respect, and
Safety Study (MTRSS) with the members of the Police Regional Office-13 and
other stakeholders. Photo courtesy of MinDA. |
He also explained
that the survey for Caraga covered the areas of Butuan City, Surigao del Norte,
Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Dinagat Islands.
Variables
administered are safety, respect, trust, security, and satisfaction using
systematic sampling for 1,202 respondents.
In addition,
Agusan del Sur has been remarkable in the area of police assistance, as well as
metrics of respect, trust, and security, all at 94 percent. Dinagat Islands, on
the other hand, maintained the top spot for hotline awareness and safety
metrics. These two provincial areas pulled up Caraga’s rating.
Supporting the
study, MinDA Secretary Maria Belen S. Acosta said that MTRSS could also help
communicate an accurate narrative and image about the region and Mindanao as a
whole, especially with the recent travel advisory from the government of Canada
warning tourists to come to the country, particularly Mindanao.
Included in the
advisory is an urge for tourists to avoid non-essential travel to Eastern
Mindanao in the following areas: Caraga (Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur,
Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, excluding Siargao Island and Surigao del
Sur), and the whole of the Davao Region except Davao City.
“We are
disheartened to know of the recent advisories from foreign embassies strongly
discouraging travel to Mindanao. Many of these advisories do not reflect the
current situation in the island-region,” the MinDA chairperson said.
“We understand
that it is the role of their government to remind their citizens of their
welfare; however, the advisory does not reflect the real situation on the
ground,” she added.
PRO-13, on the
other hand, provided reinforcement to MinDA as it emphasized the consistent
crime reduction in the region, in which lately murder went down by 25 percent
and theft incidents decreased by 80 percent.
“The significant decrease in these two index crimes is attributed to the intensified police operations and the strengthened anti-crime drive campaign of PNP Caraga in coordination with the force multipliers, community, and all stakeholders,” PRO-13 director Brig. General Kirby John B. Kraft, said.
In the aspect of insurgency and terrorism, more rebels are returning to the fold of the law. Among them is a platoon of New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas who recently surrendered to the police.
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A platoon of NPA
chose the path of peace and surrendered to Caraga police on December 26, 2023.
Photo of PIA Caraga. |
The surrenderees included 13 people who abandoned the Guerilla Front 4A and Guerilla Front 88 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee; Guerilla Front 8 and Guerilla Front 14 of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee; and Guerilla Front 34 and Sub-Regional Committee 4 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee.
These tangible
achievements were made possible and sustained through the combined efforts of
all peace and order councils, local government units, the community, and all
stakeholders to suppress crimes and local communist armed conflict in the
region.
“Despite some
challenges and isolated incidents, Caraga region continues to expand, grow, and
prosper given its rich natural resources and the positive outlook of its
citizens. With a strong support system at the regional level, it will be very
difficult for crime and violence to flourish in Caraga,” Acosta underscored.
The Mindanao
Trust, Respect, and Safety Study (MTRSS) is a scientific baseline study on the
Philippine National Police’s public safety satisfaction and service delivery
initiated by MinDA since 2022.
Using the study’s statistical data and results, the overall objective is to present Caraga region and the rest of Mindanao as viable hubs for business and leisure activities, investment opportunities, and tourist arrivals to propel greater economic growth. (RLE/PIA-Caraga with a report from MinDA)
