EFFECTS OF CROWDED POPULACE IN SELECTED BARANGAYS OF LUCENA CITY: IMPLICATION TO CRIMINALITY

This study aimed to determine the effects of crowded populace in selected barangay of Lucena City implication to criminality. The gathering of data was conducted in Barangay Cotta and Barangay Dalahican, Lucena City and the researchers utilized the descriptive-survey method of research. A total of 130 respondents answered the questionnaire composed of 100 residents, 20 barangay officials and 10 police officers. Findings revealed that the most commonly committed crime in crowded barangays is gambling. In terms of maintenance of peace and order, the respondents perceived that rapid increase of population is the effects of overcrowded populace. In terms of increase of criminality rate in crowded barangays, the respondents sought that unemployment which prevents them to earn money for economic survival that pushes other people to involved or do crimes in the community. Meanwhile, in terms of addressing the problems of criminality, they said that organizing assembly for youths, parents and neighbours for purpose of promoting awareness of the environment is the most effective measures adopted by the barangay official. Also, the best additional effective measure adopted by the barangay official to address the problems of criminality is by conducting mobile and foot patrol to established good camaraderie between the resident and police. Since the Lucena City is a developing city with increasing rate of population in different barangay and since the crime itself occurs everywhere. It is everybody’s concerned the rapid increase of population that cause to overcrowded populace and occurrence of crimes. Therefore it is highly recommended to the government and other agency who had the authority in dealing such problems, especially to the PNP and local government of Lucena City for the protection and safety of everyone that they should make the police outpost functional and make mobile and foot patrol regularly so that residents of the barangay will be felt secured and to prevent the possible occurrence of crime through police visibility. However, patrolling regularly is not the only possible solution to prevent crime since crime itself occurs in different time. Therefore, additional attention of our government to the cause of overcrowded to fully attain the objective of this research.