News Feature: NSO survey to know people’s reporting behavior

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Oct. 19 (PIA6) – Are communities reporting crime incidents in their area?

Mila, a 45 year-old mother of three kids, said she is not reporting the verbal assaults and slight physical abuse of her live-in partner against her because the same is a usual scenario in their home especially when the latter is drunk.

“Why should I bother to report to the police when the police station is far from our place and our relation usually becomes okay the following morning,” she said in Hiligaynon, stressing that quarrel is but normal for a couple.

The answer of Mila could be taken in the ongoing survey of the National Statistics Office which will provide development planners and policy makers the needed data on how people respond when there are crime incidents—whether or not they report cases of crimes and the reason of their non-reporting.

The reporting of crimes to the authorities will reflect to people’s behavior and will be given emphasis in policy making.

Capiz NSO Provincial Head Frankie Dordas emphasized that the crime victimization survey is conducted for the first time which will involve 15 years old and over members of the household who had been victims of crimes in the past five years.

He said that victimization risks, safety measures by the households and community as well as the people’s attitude in crime reporting will be given emphasis in the survey in addition to the information on the nature of the crimes that are not reported to the police and the reasons for non-reporting.

“Through the current survey, regions with high crime incidents in the country will be identified which will become one of the bases in taking steps to improve crime prevention, protection of victims and police services,” Dordas said.

He said that the survey promotes the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals through the enhancement of capabilities to produce crime statistics for the use of development planners and policy makers.

This year’s crime victimization survey, which will be using 400 sample households from 23 sample barangays in the province, is in collaboration with the Department of National Defense, National Police Commission, National Statistical Coordination Board, and with technical assistance by the consultants from the United Office of Drugs and Crime.

On the other hand, Dordas revealed that the CVS will be simultaneously conducted with the Labor Force Survey and the 2012 Survey on Overseas Filipinos.(JCM/Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA6)