ILOILO CITY — In a significant move to bolster peace and order, the local government has announced the establishment of four new police stations, expanding the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to include a total of 147 additional officers. These stations are set to be officially activated on July 2 by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rommel Marbil.
According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, the city has already procured essential equipment including office desks, chairs, computers, and three police cars, with an additional vehicle to be provided by the PNP. "We have procured the office desks, chairs, computers, and the rest. Three police cars have already been procured since the PNP will provide one. We will also buy them long firearms," said Mayor Treñas on Monday. The mayor also highlighted the strategic placement of the new stations to optimize police coverage and response times across the city.
The new stations will enhance the ICPO’s capacity significantly. Police Station (PS) 7 located at the Tanza ICARE in the City Proper District will serve 24 barangays with a population of 26,835. PS8 will be at the Barangay Hall of Bo. Obrero in the Lapuz district, covering 12 barangays with 30,384 residents. Station 9, situated at the Uswag Youth Center in the Jaro district, will cover 29 barangays with 60,519 residents. Lastly, PS 10 will operate from the ICARE Gaisano in the Mandurriao district, serving seven barangays and 25,917 residents.
The initiative, first proposed in 2019, was delayed due to the pandemic but is now being realized, fulfilling a long-held goal of the city administration. Mayor Treñas expressed his satisfaction with this development, stating, "I am very happy. This is a dream come true for us."