Community involvement in the activities of the police seemed to be very promising in the promotion of public safety. The idea that people should guard their own backyard could be the best action to reduce crime in a community. The Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams of BPATs is the implementer of the Barangay Peacekeeping Operation which is an organization serving as force multipliers of the PNP in promoting public safety. The main goal of this study was to assess the BPATs of the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office as force multipliers in the promotion of self policing and public safety.
This study made use of descriptive method of research with data mainly coming from the assessment of the three groups of respondents (PNP personnel, Barangay Officials and Community) using a research made questionnaire. A total of 292 respondents were used chosen using proportional and random sampling. The study was conducted in Bislig and Tandag City. The study hypothesized that the assessment of the three groups of respondents on the effectiveness of the BPATs are significantly different in terms of community partnership, problem solving and change of management. The data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, weighted mean and percentage. Significant relationship among the assessment of the three groups of respondents was analyzed using ANOVA at 5% level of significance.
Results showed that the level of effectiveness of the BPATs as police force multiplier in terms of community partnership obtained a grand mean of 4.27 (Highly Effective). In addition, the respondents viewed that in terms of problem solving, the BPATs were effective (WM = 4.14). Moreover, the BPATs were highly effective as PNP force multipliers in terms of change of management. ANOVA at 5% level of significance revealed that there is a discrepancy among the assessment of the three groups of respondents on the level of effectiveness of BPATs in terms of all aspects.
The respondents found the problems encountered by the BPATs in their support to the activity of the PNP in terms of community partnership as serious dilemma with a grand mean of 3.68. The problems encountered in terms of problem solving aspect garnered an overall grand mean of 3.50 which is equivalent to a “Serious” verbal interpretation. A grand mean of 3.60 (Serious) was obtained by the problems encountered by the BPATs in terms of change of management. The null hypothesis stating no significant difference among the assessments of the three groups of respondents is rejected at 5% level of significance.
The proposed measures to address the problems encountered by the BPATs in promoting self policing and public safety obtained a grand mean of 4.44 (Highly Recommended) in terms of community partnership, a grand mean of 4.48 (Highly Recommended) each in terms of problem solving and change of management. Analysis of Variance at 5% level of significance suggests that the difference among the assessment of the three groups of respondents in terms of community partnership and problem solving is not significant. On the other hand, the discrepancy among the marks given up by the three groups of rater was found to be significant.
An action plan was designed to conduct trainings, seminars and education programs in order to improve the skills of BPATs in Surigao del Sur was hereby suggested. Also, symposiums and community seminars were also part of the action plan to instill to the minds of the community members that they should take part in the promotion of public safety.