BAGUIO CITY — Reporting emergencies and coordinating security responses in the Philippines' vacation capital could soon become faster, as the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) develops a new mobile application linking police, city officials, and other security partners.

The application, the Guard's Unified Assistance and Reporting Digital Link (GUARDLINK), is currently in the coding stage. It is designed to centralize incident reports, speed up information sharing, and improve coordination during emergencies. The BCPO said the platform is expected to strengthen security operations across Baguio, a highland city in northern Luzon widely known as the country's "Summer Capital" and one of its leading tourist destinations. In a destination city where safety concerns can involve residents and visitors alike, a single reporting channel is intended to shorten the distance between an incident and the responders who can act on it.

Newly installed BCPO director Police Col. Nixon Laoyan is pushing to modernize police services while strengthening the protection of personnel and the public. The initiative supports the office's commitment to deliver "Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat at Nararamdaman" — fast, honest, and felt service — through closer coordination with the local government and the community.

GUARDLINK builds on the BCPO Baguio View app, which gives residents and tourists updates on traffic conditions, road access to tourist destinations, and available parking spaces. Where Baguio View delivers information out to users, GUARDLINK is designed to route information in, channeling incident reports into a single system that police, city officials, and security partners can act on together. Baguio View was developed during the term of former city director Police Col. Ruel Tagel and is among the office's digital initiatives to make information more accessible to the public.

The BCPO said it would continue deploying police personnel in schools, tourist spots, and other busy areas to maintain peace and order. With GUARDLINK in development, the office aims to give security responders a more direct channel to share information and act on public safety concerns. The app remains in the coding stage, and the report did not indicate when it would be completed or made available to users.

— Artemio A. Dumlao

Source: BusinessWorld Online