Residents of Madasalin Street in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, Philippines through its neighborhood association, Kapisanan Ng Madasalin, have decided to pool their limited financial resources to fight the increasing number of crimes in their street. This action by the residents is the result of the inability of the local officials and the police to address the recurring crimes in the area. The residents have recorded an increasing number of theft, robbery, attempted rape, snatching, illegal drugs and car napping.
In a meeting held today at the residence of Mr. Tomas Viray, a Senior Adviser of Association, the Officers led by the Acting Chairman, Former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Renato (Boy) Ampil) have decided to hire the services of a private security agency to provide security services to the residents of the area. Likewise, the residents contributed funds for the erection of two security stations in the area to serve as control points for all incoming and outgoing vehicles and pedestrians in the area.
Justice Emilio Gancayco, the Chair of the Advisory Committee, hailed the action of the leadership in finding a way to protect the residents of the street from criminal elements. Atty. Narciso Tadeo, the Chair of Kapisanan has been working on the setting up of the security measures since February this year. Atty. Tadeo is presently in California on a business trip. Mr. Arnold Gonzales, the Security and Peace and Order Chairman of the group, has been tasked by the association to set up the infrastructure and manpower to make the security set up operational by November 15, 2008.
Early this year the residents of Madasalin Street have decided to form an association known as Kapisanan Ng Madasalin for the primary purpose of securing the residents of the street and maintaining peace and harmony among its residents. Since its inception, the association have made countless attempts to report the increasing number of crimes in the area to the local police station. The local police would send a patrol car only when there is actual crime happening in the area. They could not assign a regular patrol due to lack of police personnel and vehicle to patrol the area. Even the local government unit (Barangay} could not provide the necessary assistance to secure the street because of lack of equipment, manpower and funds to support their crime prevention program for the community.
The setting up of the security infrastructures and personnel for the overall security of the residents of Madasalin Street is being anxiously awaited by the residents. They believe that the local government unit and the police cannot be relied upon at this time for lack of funding hence this action by the neighborhood association.The residents added that their contributions to set up the needed infrastructures for the security of the residents is a big slash on their family incomes but they are hoping that they will have a more peaceful community even without the help from the police and the local government units.