Bacolod City is set to enhance its security infrastructure by planning the addition of five new police stations. This initiative aims to better serve the city’s expanding population and improve overall safety. Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez emphasized the importance of this move, stating it would significantly improve the safety and security for all residents of Bacolod. The proposed locations for these new stations include the barangays of Banago, Estefania, Vista Alegre, Cabug, and Singcang-Airport. Mayor Benitez expressed strong support for the Bacolod City Police Office’s ambition to achieve ‘Type A’ status, which would enable the expansion of police stations from the current 10 to potentially 20. Colonel Joeresty Coronica, the city’s police director, highlighted the necessity of this expansion to keep pace with the city’s rapid development. Currently, Bacolod has 10 police stations, but the distribution is not optimal. For instance, residents of Banago, one of the city’s most populated areas, find it challenging to access services from Police Station 3 in Barangay Mandalagan. Similarly, residents of Vista Alegre and Estefania are distant from their respective police stations in Mansilingan and Villamonte. Barangay Cabug falls under Police Station 9 in Sum-ag, and Singcang-Airport is served by Police Station 8 in Tangub. The national standard for police-to-population ratio is one officer per 500 residents, but Bacolod currently exceeds this ratio, indicating a need for more officers and stations.
