Atienza orders more police visibility in malls

As the Christmas season starts, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza directed yesterday the Western Police District (WPD) to increase police visibility in shopping malls and arcades to assure the safety of shoppers.

Atienza said the presence of uniformed policemen is the best deterrent against holduppers, snatchers and pickpockets.

"The deployment of policemen in shopping malls and arcades is part of the city government’s effort to promote Manila as the premier shopping destination, both for local and foreign tourists," Atienza said.

According to Atienza, areas that should be guarded are Quiapo, Divisoria, Sta. Cruz, Binondo (Chinatown), Malate and Ermita.

In his directive to WPD director Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos, the mayor said the police should keep a tight watch in these areas where criminal elements become more active during the Yuletide season.

"Manila’s commercial and shopping centers range from the low end to the high end. You can buy imported, high-priced goods in the same manner that you can buy a pair of jeans for as low as P100," Atienza added.

Aside from affordability and quality of consumer goods, Atienza said the city government would like to attract people to shop in Manila if their safety is assured.

"We want them to feel that shopping in Manila is an enjoyable, safe and hassle-free experience," Atienza noted.

In an earlier interview, the mayor said the city government would not allow vendors to ply their trade on the main streets of Divisoria and Binondo during the Christmas season.

Atienza said the city government wants to ensure the smooth flow of traffic not only in Divisoria and Binondo, but the whole city, when the Christmas season comes.

In the past years, vendors used to occupy all the major and minor streets in Divisoria and Binondo, creating monstrous traffic jams. Other roads leading to Divisoria and Binondo were also clogged as a result of the traffic jams in the two areas. – Cecille Suerte Felipe