Cotabato, model city of R-12

PEACE RUNNER --- Cotabato City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia J. Guiani-Sayadi was  Guest of Honor at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Police Regional Office XII Training Center in Tambler, General Santos City last January 2  when the PRO XII awarded  Cotabato City as “Model City” in peacekeeping efforts and initiatives. (COTABATO CITY GOVERNMENT – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

The Police Regional Office XII lauded the efforts of the city government of Cotabato in peacekeeping and named Cotabato City as the “Model City” of Region XII.

       

For the past months, especially during the second semester of 2016, crime rate in Cotabato City has significantly decreased as compared to the crime rate at the same time in 2015. 

The eight focus crimes as identified by the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) such as murder, theft, robbery, carnap, and others had a decline of over 25 percent as of November 2016.

PNP officials said this number is still expected to go down.

One of the indicators or factors attributed by the CCPO to the decline of criminality is the nightly joint “ronda” conducted by the local government unit and the City PNP, headed by City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.

The team has apprehended 188 individuals during the conduct of the “Project Double Barrel” of the PNP targeting drug sellers and users in the city. More than P700,000 worth of drugs and drug paraphernalia were also confiscated by the authorities.

Because of this achievement, Cotabato City was recognized by the Regional PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

In the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Police Regional Office (PRO) XII Training Center where City Mayor Guiani-Sayadi was guest of honor, PRO XII Director Gen.  Cedrick Train praised the city’s LGU-PNP Joint Ronda for its successful attempts in curbing the crime rate in Cotabato City.

He said other local government units are also encouraged to do the same and take control of their own peacekeeping programs.

“Cotabato City has set the bar for the other cities in Region XII. I feel very proud that Cotabato City was chosen to become the model city among all the other more progressive cities in the region. It only shows that we are the most improved and our joint ronda is truly one of our best practices,” City Mayor Guiani-Sayadi said.

During the traditional courtesy call of the different offices of the city government to the city mayor, she expressed her plans for 2017 with optimism that 2017 will be a better year for Cotabato City with all the remarkable projects that are already in the pipeline.

She enjoined the cooperation of all the departments in the pursuit of a highly urbanized Cotabato City.

The mayor also revealed that several investors — both foreign and local — are set to enter the city this year. The construction of the KCC Mall will commence in the first quarter of 2017. With the rising trend in the global demand for halal products, Cotabato City is seen to be the country’s “halal hub.”

“Cotabato City is now moving forward. We are already thinking global. This may be one giant leap but we are taking it with full confidence and strong will. I know that with the support and cooperation of our people and our partners in the government and private sector, we can achieve all our plans,” the mayor added. (HALIMA SATOL-IBRAHIM – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)