1

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study

Community safety is composed of every individual who is working

together with coordination and unity, shaping partnerships in promoting

safety, managing risk reduction, help in increasing the level of safety and

lessen the fear of harm. The most important aspect of community safety is to

have public services with a combination of the ability to find solutions and

interests to address local concerns. Like harm to reputation, incident, anti-

social behavior and crime in a coordinated and sustainable manner according

to Australian Safe Communities Foundation (2013).

Many countries have to embrace national strategies on crime

prevention that place special importance on what can be done to prevent

crime occurring before the interference of the criminal justice system and to

complement on the work of the criminal justice system. The approaches focus

on what can be done at the local level, to the communities near where the

crime takes place, and involve cross-cutting, multi- sartorial integrated policies

and interventions, with the help of the national and sub-regional governments

(International Centre for the Prevention of Crime., 2007).

In the in urban areas of the Philippines, crime is a significant concern.

Pick-pocketing, confidence schemes, acquaintance scams, and, in some

cases, credit card fraud is the most typical criminal acts. Carjacking,

kidnappings, robberies, and violent assaults irregularly occur. The rate crime
 2

is in total as of July 1, 2015, until June 30, 2016, was 158,879 as compared to

July 1, 2016, to March 24, 2017, with 78,941 according to the survey of the

Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management headed by the Police

Director Augusto Marquez. It is stated that a 44 percent decrease in crime

rate in Davao City for the second quarter of 2017 according to the Acting

Director Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum. It was acknowledged that

the city could not prevent all the crimes. Hence, the researchers determined

the level of public safety strategy used in Davao City according to Patalinghug

(2017).

Statement of the Problem

This study is aimed to determine the public safety strategies in Davao

City. Specifically, it attempted to answer the following objectives:

1. What is the level of Public Safety Strategies in Davao City in terms

of:

1.1 Crime Prevention

1.2 Social Disorganization

1.3 Collective Efficacy -Informal Social Control

1.4 Fear of Crime Incident

2. Is there any significant difference in the level of public safety

strategies in Davao City when respondents are grouped according to

profile?

Hypothesis

There is no significant difference between the public safety strategies

and the socio-demographic profile of the respondents in Davao City.

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Review of Related Literature

A harmful impact on the characteristic of individual and community life

is considered a social problem. In the last 40 years, some studies have been

undertaken to achieve more insight in fear of crime, most of these studies are

flawed because they make use of unclear thinking global to measures the of

fear of crime that can’t comprehend with its complexity. Through adopting an

alternative question design that delivers insight into the prevalence,

frequency, and intensity of fear of crime the fear of crime can be achieved.

Numerous theoretical models that focus on explaining the fear of crime have

been developed with these measurement concerns. These include

vulnerability, victimization and impolite act model which are the particular

interest according to (Jackson & Farrall 2008).

In public health, research crime is rarely considered as an outcome.

During the past 50 years, the major theoretical and empirical developments in

the field of criminology suggest that the same social, environmental factors

can predict geographic variation in crime rates which plays an important role

in explaining community variations in health and wellbeing. Why are some

communities healthier than others? Understanding the causes of variability in

crime across countries and across regions within a country will help us to

solve one of the enduring puzzles in public health (Ichiro, K., 2014).

There are two sets of societal characteristics influence the level of

crime these are; the degree of relative deprivation in society (measured by the

extent of income inequality) and the degree of cohesiveness in social relations

among citizens (measured by indicators of `social capital' and `collective

 4

efficacy’) that influence the social context on community health. The reliable

associated with relative deprivation and indicators of low social capital are

violent crimes such as homicide, assault, robbery. Among property crimes

burglary was also associated with deprivation and low social capital. The

areas with high crime rates tend to exhibit higher mortality rates from all

causes, suggesting that crime and population health share the same social

origins. Thus, Crime is a mirror of the quality of the social environment.

(Bruce, K. & et al., 2014.)

In 1996, the World Health Assembly declared that global public health

problem is violence in all its forms such as self-directed, interpersonal and

collective. It is estimated that over one million people worldwide lose their

lives as a direct result of violence. This is one of the leading causes of death

of people globally at the age of 15 to 44 years annually. In Australia, violent

crime rates remain somewhat stable and show a decline in some offenses

and jurisdictions (Davis & Dossetor, 2010).

Regardless of this trend, when the Australian Bureau of Statistics

survey there were 1.5 million estimated incidents of physical assault and 2.4

million estimated threatened face-to-face physical assaults and more than

77,000 were victims of robbery, and 54,900 were victims of sexual assault

over the age of 18 in the year of 2010-2011, and 59% of the respondents

agreed when they asked if they perceived their neighborhood to have at least

one form of social disorder issue. The perception of the majority of the

respondents was due to personal experience, and the issue was “large to

moderate," (ABS, 2012).

 5

In Davao City police stations there is increasing police visibility in

communities to reduce the numbers of crimes. For maximizing visibility, the

policemen are outside for advocacy programs. According to Abat, most of the

policemen are on foot patrol instead of riding in mobile to observe more on the

safety of the community, in this way their connection with the community can

easily be established against criminal acts. Policemen also roam around in

different villages in a subdivision within the area of their responsibilities to

make sure that they are safe by the Police Force.

According to Riñen, Safety is freedom from harm or danger in which

every person could assure that they have a safe place to live and security for

their daily lives. People need to be safe at all times under any circumstances

even if they are at home, at work, at School, traveling at a social event or in

desperate need emergency assistance. In Cebu City, strengthening police

visibility in public areas where implemented by the PNP as part of their

strategy to lessen street crimes in a program dubbed Metro Cebu

Comprehensive Deployment System. Through this program, they can

maximize police visibility out in the streets to prevent crimes from happening

and witness more augmentation of policemen out in the streets in the beat,

foot, and mobile in covert operations. The “police presence” is the response to

street crimes and increasing the number of policemen in foot and mobile

patrol. Other strategies that will be used are establishing of checkpoints,

deployment of undercover personnel and with all these done randomly.

The society and the government played a crucial role in creating safer

communities. There is a movement that reflects the degree of growth in

academic and practitioner’s knowledge on preventing crime, violence and

 6

insecurity, evidence of the effectiveness of prevention policies, their broader

cost benefits. The work of a group of 800 mayors in France, led by Gilbert

Bonnemaison, as well as the sister organizations such as the European

Forum for Urban Security, who recognized the benefits of working

collaboratively across all urban sectors to develop social programs to prevent

crime and disorder in cities is the specific inspiration for the creation of ICPC.

The politique de la Ville, a policy which specifically targeted funds to local

governments enable them to work in partnerships across sectors in

developing prevention programs in deprived areas of cities in France led very

significantly for the development (De Maillard & Germain, 2012).

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

This study is obtained on the Institute for Comprehensive Community

Development by Julia Ryan in the form of statistical quality control. The

Institute for Comprehensive Community Development refers to the public

safety in a community that doesn't have to be something that happens at

arm's length from community development efforts. The local organizations

across the country are working with police to incorporate public safety into the

mix of issues addressed in a comprehensive community development

initiative. It has been shown in this article how these efforts could result in a

remarkable drop in crime rates and a healthier growing community.

The study is further supported by the National Crime Prevention

Strategy (NCPS) which states that community safety is an integral part of the

Government of Canada's continued efforts to discuss crime to build stronger

and safer communities. Canada was administered by the National Crime

Prevention Centre in the Community Safety and Partnerships Branch of

 7

Public Safety managed a program in collaboration with the provinces and

territories used a strategy that provides a policy framework for implementation

of crime prevention interventions. (Goodale, Ralph 2015).

In figure 1, the conceptual framework of this study is shown in

consisting of the variable in public safety strategy with indicators crime

prevention, social disorganization, collective efficacy-informal social control

and fear of crime incident. The moderator variable is age, sex, civil status,

tribe, and educational attainment.

 8

Main Variable

Public Safety Strategies in Davao City

 Crime Prevention
 Social Disorganization
 Collective Efficacy -Informal Social Control
 Fear of Crime Incident

Moderator Variable

Socio-Demographic profile

 Age
 Sex
 Tribe
 Educational Attainment

Figure 1 shows the Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

 9

Significance of the Study

The Findings of the study was beneficial to the following:

Department of Interior and Local Government. The result of this

study could help the DILG to be aware of the effectiveness of the public safety

strategies to the community safety and also to measures and identify the

possible sources of vulnerability to crime. It could be useful to the police

visibility and police auxiliary in implementing the crime prevention strategies in

each precinct.

Davao City Local Government Unit. This result showed the level of

public safety and actual implemented public safety strategies in Davao City. In

which the city government can enhance and provide an additional solution on

how to increase the level of public safety strategies. The city government can

establish and implement programs to inform the people in the community on

how to help in increasing awareness about the new ordinance in Davao city.

Philippine National Police of Davao City. The findings of the study

determined the effectiveness and proper implementation of public safety

strategies against the crime. Through this, the precinct chief could determine

the public safety strategies and what they need to improved and achieved to

have a place safe where to live.

Davao City Residents. The result of this study revealed the public

safety strategy in Davao City. This could be their basis to get information

about public safety strategies and what should be needed to implement to

lessen crime rate.

 10

Definition of terms

The terms used in the study are operationally defined

Public Safety Strategy. Refers to the welfare and protection of the

community. It is usually expressed as a governmental responsibility to reduce

and deter crime and criminals. It specifically applied to efforts made

by governments to reduce crime, enforce the law, and maintain criminal

justice. And to the state of society characterized by the breakdown of

effective social control resulting in a lack of functional integration between

groups, conflicting social attitudes, and personal maladjustment.

Random Sampling. is a part of the sampling technique in which each

sample has an equal probability of being chosen? An example chosen

randomly is meant to be an unbiased of the total population.

 11

Chapter 2

METHOD

This chapter presents the research design, research subject, research

instruments, data gathering procedure and statistical treatment of data.

Research Design

This research was descriptive research. Descriptive research is a study

design to depict the participants in an accurate way. More simply put,

descriptive research is all about describing people who take part in the study.

The researcher, in this case, adopted the descriptive research method by

using the descriptive method. The researcher was able to make the required

conclusions about variables based on the information collected from the

responses of the respondents and statistically presented in the type of

research method for the easy interpretation of the report users (Ritchie et.,

2013).

Research Subject

This research conducted 300 of the residents of Davao City. There was

300 participant of this study who is in the community in Davao City. The 100

respondents were from barangay Cabantian, 100 respondents were from

barangay Catalunan, and also 100 respondents were from barangay

Governor Vicente Duterte that can benefit the public safety strategy in Davao

City. The researcher was using the descriptive method design where the

status of respondents was carefully considered. The distribution of

 12

respondents is the community of Davao City according to demographic

variables.

Table 1. Characteristics of 300 respondents included in the survey.

Profile Variables Frequency Percent (%)

Sex
Male 162 54.0
Female 138 46.0
Tribe
Visaya 167 55.7
Ilonggo 61 20.3
Tagalog 54 18.0
Mandaya 3 1.0
Muslim 15 5.0
Age
20 and below 79 26.3
21-25 113 37.7
26-30 75 25.0
31-35 14 4.7
36-40 19 6.3
41 and above 0 0.0
Educational Attainment
Elementary 17 5.7
High School 58 19.3
College 162 54.0
Professional 63 21.0
Civil Status
Single 179 59.7
Married 85 28.3
Widowed 17 5.7
Separated 19 6.3

Research Instruments

A researcher-made questionnaire was used in this study. The

questionnaire was composed of two (2) parts: Part 1 described the socio-

demographic profile of the respondents; Part 2 described the Public Safety

Strategy composed of four categories. First is the crime prevention, the

second is social disorganization, third is the collective efficacy -informal

social control and fourth is the fear of crime incident.

 13

The preliminary draft was submitted to the adviser for corrections, and

then a panel of experts was consulted to ensure its reliability and validity. The

questionnaire was validated by Ivy Q. Malibiran, MS CRIM, Eduardo C.

Berco Jr., MS CRIM and Agnes R.Capili, MS CRIM.

Scaling of the variable for the enforcement of different public safety

strategies is as follows:

Range of Means Verbal Meaning Descriptive Interpretation

4.20-5.00 Always The public safety strategies are

always being imposed. Thus,
more improvements on
strategies are barely needed.

3.40-4.19 Often The public safety strategies are

being imposed often showing
that they serve but needs more
strategies must be imposed.

2.60-3.39 Sometimes The public safety strategies are

being imposed sometimes
showing negative impact and
need to be monitored for the
lacking of security.

1.80-2.59 Seldom The public safety strategies are

being imposed seldom showing
that Davaoeños do not have a
safe place.

1.00-1.79 Never The public safety strategies are

never being imposed showing
that Davao is not safe and at risk
which already needs an action.

Data Gathering Procedures

The following steps were observed in conducting this research study.

1. Researchers forwarded the letters to the Captain of selected

Barangay’s in Davao City.

 14

2. Securing approval within the area of responsibility, the researchers

proceeding in administering the prepared questionnaires to the respondents.

3. Answered questionnaires were retrieved and subjected for analysis

and interpretation.

Statistical Treatment of Data

The following statistical tool was used in the treatment of data.

Mean. This was used to determine the level of enforcement of the

different public safety strategies in Davao City.

T-test. This was used to determine the differences on the public safety

strategies employed to the successful deterrence of crime and keeping

communities involved in crime prevention when analyzed by sex.

ANOVA. This was used to determine the differences on the public

safety strategies employed to the successful deterrence of crime and keeping

communities involved in crime prevention when analyzed by age.

 15

Chapter 3

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS

This Chapter represents the results of Public Safety Strategy in Davao

City. The results were presented in tables by the use of frequency counts,

percentage and mean.

Level of Public Safety Strategy in Davao City

Presented in Table 2 shows the public safety strategy with an overall

mean score of 2.74.in terms of crime prevention the mean score ranges from

3.53 (SD=0.522) which is very high. Arranged from the highest to lowest

Mean of scores, the result for the level of public safety x=3.53, SD=0.522) or

very high. In terms of social disorder, the mean score ranges from

2.61(SD=0.650) which is very high. They expressed the collective efficacy-

informal social control the mean that score ranges from 2.62 (x=2.62,

SD=0.681) or very high. This means that in terms of fear of crime the mean

score ranges from the 2.18 (SD=0.660) which is high. This means that the

terms of crime incident people are safe in Davao City. Arranged from the

highest to lowest mean scores with an overall mean score of 2.74

(SD=0.628).

In other words, the results show that the public safety strategies are

being implemented here in Davao City and Davaoeños has a safe place to

live. Thus, it needs to be monitor and make some strategies that could help in

improving some public safety strategies.

 16

Table 2. Level of Public Safety Strategies, n=300

Indicators Mean ( x ) Std. Deviation(SD)

Crime Prevention 3.53 0.522

Social Disorganization 2.61 0.650

Collective Efficacy-Informal 2.62 0.681

Social Control

Fear of Crime Incident 2.18 0.660

Overall 2.74 0.628

Significance of difference of Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in

terms of sex

Table 3 shows the t-test result in determining the difference level of the

public safety strategy on crime prevention, social disorganization, collective

efficacy-informal social control and fear of crime incident differ when they are

grouped according to their sex.

As revealed in the table, the table of the effectiveness of crime prevention

found that there is no significant difference among male (5.53) and female

(3.53) respondents, based on the computed t-ratio of -.044, p=0.965 is greater

than *p<0.05.

As revealed in the table, the table of the level of public safety strategy in

social disorganization found that there is no significant difference among male

(2.57) and female (2.66) respondents, based on the computed t-ratio of -

1.091, p=0.276 which are greater than *p<0.05. The level of public safety

strategy in collective efficacy-informal social control found that there is no

significant difference among male (2.58) and female (2.68) respondents,

 17

based on the computed t-ratio of -1.091, p=-1.281 which are greater than

*p<0.05.

Lastly, as revealed in the table, the level of public safety strategy on

fear of crime incident found that there is no significant difference among male

(2.18) and female (2.19) respondents, based on the computed t-ratio of -

0.231, p=0.818 which is greater than *p < 0.05.

Table 3. Independent samples t-test results showing the differences in

Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in terms of sex

Variables Group N x SD t P

Crime Prevention Male 162 3.53 0.537 -.044 0.965

Female 138 3.53 0.505

Social Disorganization Male 162 2.57 0.686 -1.091 0.276

Female 138 2.66 0.605

Collective Efficacy-Informal Male 162 2.66 0.677 -1.281 0.201

Social Control
Female 138 2.58 0.677

Male 162 2.68 0.683 -0.231 0.818

Fear of Crime Incident Female 138 2.18 0.657

162 2.19 0.667

*p<0.05

The result shows that the public safety strategies could be employed to

the successful deterrence of crime and keeping communities in both male and

female and their equality and there is no gender discrimination in the crime
 18

prevention strategies employed to the successful deterrence of crime and

keeping communities.

Significance of difference of Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in

terms of age

Table 4. Summary of ANOVA results showing the differences in the

Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in terms of age.

Sum of Mean

Squares df Square F Sig.

Between Groups 1.463 4 0.366 1.697 0.151

Within Groups 63.590 295 0.216

Total 65.053 299

*p<0.05

Thus the null hypothesis stating no significant difference on the level of

public safety strategy based on crime prevention, social disorganization,

collective efficacy-informal social control and fear of crime incident when

analyzed by age was found true, thus failing to reject the null hypothesis. This

means that the difference of mean scores of respondents is not far enough to

qualify for significance of the difference, thus concluding that the level of

public safety strategy in Davao City is not varying in terms of age.

Significance of difference of Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in

terms of civil status

Table5. Shows the one-way ANOVA result in determining the

difference on the level of public safety strategy based on crime prevention,

social disorganization, collective efficacy-informal social control and fear of

 19

crime incident significantly differ when they are grouped according to their civil

status.

As revealed in the table, the level of public safety strategy based on

crime prevention was found to have no significant difference among

respondents regardless of their civil status, based on the computed F-value of

0.085, p=0.968 which are greater than *p < 0.05.

Table 5. Summary of ANOVA results showing the differences in the

Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in terms of civil status.

Sum of Mean
Squares df Square F Sig.

Between Groups 0.056 3 0.019 0.085 0.968

Within Groups 64.997 296 0.220

Total 65.053 299

*p<0.0

Significance of difference of Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in

terms of tribe

As revealed in the table, the level of public safety strategy based on

crime prevention was found to have no significant difference among

respondents regardless of their civil status, based on the computed F-value of

3.794, p=0.005 which are greater than *p < 0.05.

 20

Table 6. Summary of ANOVA results showing the differences in the

Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in terms of the tribe.

Sum of Mean
Squares df Square F Sig.

Between Groups 3.183 4 0.796 3.794 0.005*

Within Groups 61.870 295 0.210

Total 65.053 299

*p<0.05

Significance of difference of Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in

terms of educational attainment

As revealed in the table, the level of public safety strategy based on

crime prevention was found to have no significant difference among

respondents regardless of their civil status, based on the computed F-value of

1.985, p=0.116 which are greater than *p < 0.05.

Table 7. Summary of ANOVA results showing the differences on the on

the Public Safety Strategy in Davao City in terms of educational attainment.

Sum of Mean

Squares df Square F Sig.

Between Groups 1.283 3 0.428 1.985 0.116

Within Groups 63.770 296 0.215

Total 65.053 299

*p<0.05
 21

Chapter 4

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary

The study was conducted to determine the Public safety strategy in

Davao City. It sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the level of Public Safety Strategies in Davao City in terms of:

1.1 Crime Prevention

2.2 Social Disorganization

2.3 Collective Efficacy -Informal Social Control

2.4 Fear of Crime Incident

2. Is there any significant difference in the level of public safety strategies

in Davao City when respondents are grouped according to profile?

The findings of summarizing are followed;

1. The public safety strategy

2. There is no significant difference between the Public Safety

Strategies and the socio-demographic profile Public Safety Strategies in

Davao City.

Conclusions

1. Based on the results of the public safety strategies crime prevention

has the highest mean which means that crime prevention is always being

imposed. Thus, more improvements on strategies are barely needed.

2. There is no significant difference in the public safety strategy in Davao

City when survey respondents are analyzed according to profile.

 22

Recommendations

Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the following

recommendations were presented by the researchers:

Davao City Local Government Unit. The city government can

enhance and provide an additional solution on how crime prevention

strategies increase the level of community safety. The city government will

establish and implement programs to inform the people in the community to

increase the awareness about the new ordinance in Davao city.

Philippine National Police of Davao City. The findings of this study

were used to help the precinct chief to determine the community safety and

what they need to improve their public safety strategies in Davao city.

Davao City Residents. The result of this study was used to know

about the safety and the level of community safety. They will also inform

about the implemented public safety strategies in Davao city. They will be

informed by the police officer with the help of barangay officials about their

obligations and need of participation of the community about the public safety

strategies.
 23

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