A FIVE-MINUTE police response time may sound ambitious, even idealistic — but in cities like Iloilo, it should be treated as the bare minimum, not a luxury. When a life is on the line, every second counts. And when crime unfolds in real time, police presence should not be a question of chance — it must be a guarantee.
The push by newly installed Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director, Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, to implement this standard in urban areas is both timely and necessary. It shows his profound understanding of what effective policing means in the real world: it’s not merely about the number of patrols assigned but more importantly, about how fast and how well they respond when citizens call for help.
Public trust in the police is built — or broken — not through press conferences or ceremonial parades, but in the moments of crisis when ordinary people dial for help. A delayed police response doesn’t just risk the escalation of crime — it breeds fear, frustration, and cynicism. When people begin to believe that help won’t arrive on time, they lose faith in the very system meant to protect them.
And make no mistake: the five-minute benchmark is not a symbolic gesture. It is a test of the government’s seriousness to real, measurable service. If we can have food deliveries tracked to the minute, why shouldn’t we expect the same speed and transparency from our police force? Citizens deserve that level of urgency, because what’s at stake is far more important than a late pizza — it’s their safety and their lives.
But achieving a five-minute response time in a city like Iloilo is not as simple as issuing a directive. It demands resources — well-maintained patrol vehicles, reliable communication systems, real-time dispatch capabilities, and well-trained personnel. It also requires local government units to align with national efforts, ensuring that urban infrastructure supports rapid deployment: unblocked roads, working traffic lights, and station locations that reflect modern population density.
More than hardware, though, it requires leadership. Police Brigadier General Ligan’s vow to personally assess police commanders is most welcome. But follow-through is critical. Station chiefs must be held to strict standards and equipped with the tools and personnel they need to meet them. Evaluation must be continuous and data-driven, and must include public input — not just internal metrics.
Institutionalizing a five-minute response standard is not just for crime deterrence — it is about creating a culture of urgency, accountability, and responsiveness within the Philippine National Police. Western Visayas, with Iloilo City as its urban anchor, has the potential to lead this transformation.
In the end, the public is not asking for perfection — just presence. And presence, when it matters most, is what makes the difference between safety and tragedy.
