A presenter from the PSA Caraga Region, Agusan del Sur, points to a chart showing the
2024 CBMS data for Loreto, Agusan del Sur,
where nine barangays achieved a 100% safety rating.LORETO, AGUSAN DEL SUR – In a resounding testament to local peace and order, the vast majority of residents in the Municipality of Loreto feel secure in their communities, according to the latest 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) data.
The data, presented under the banner of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Promoting Peaceful and Inclusive Societies), paints a picture of a municipality where safety is not just a goal, but a lived reality for its citizens.
These impressive figures are being hailed not as mere coincidence, but as the direct fruit of Loreto’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs—efforts that have culminated in the town’s recognition as a Drug-Cleared Municipality.A “Perfect” Perception of Safety
The breakdown of “Respondent’s Perception of Safety” reveals a remarkable statistic: residents in nine different barangays reported a perfect 100.00% sentiment of feeling “Safe and Very Safe.”According to the data presented, the following barangays achieved a flawless safety perception rating:
- Johnson
- Santo Niño
- Katipunan
- Waloe
- Violanta
- Santo Tomas
- San Mariano
- San Isidro
- Poblacion
This unanimous sense of security in the Poblacion—often the busiest hub of a municipality—is particularly notable, suggesting that peace and order strategies are effectively permeating both rural and central areas of the town.The "Drug-Free" Connection
The relevance of these safety figures cannot be overstated in light of Loreto’s status as a Drug-Cleared Municipality. The high perception of safety serves as a validation of the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the police force's aggressive stance against illegal drugs.Security experts often cite the elimination of the illegal drug trade as the single biggest factor in reducing street crime (such as theft and physical assault). The 2024 CBMS data provides the statistical proof of this theory: when drugs are removed from the streets, the people feel safe.The data shows that the clearing of barangays from drug personalities and the dismantling of drug dens have translated directly into peace of mind for the average citizen. The residents' ability to walk their streets without fear is the tangible dividend of the municipality's anti-drug victory.Consistent Security Across the Board
While nine barangays achieved perfect scores, the remaining areas in Loreto trailed only slightly behind, maintaining ratings that would be the envy of many municipalities.Barangays such as Kauswagan (99.86%), Nueva Gracia (99.70%), Kasapa (99.68%), and San Vicente (99.56%) showed that the feeling of safety is consistent throughout the municipality.Even the barangays with the comparatively “lowest” ratings still posted numbers that indicate an overwhelming majority of residents feel secure. Magaud recorded a 97.65% positive perception, and Santa Teresa posted 96.96%. These figures indicate that feelings of being “unsafe” are statistical outliers, affecting a tiny fraction of the population.
Aligning with Global Goals
The presentation highlights the municipality’s alignment with SDG Goal 16, which aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies.”For local government units, perception data is a critical metric. It goes beyond crime statistics to measure the actual psychological comfort of the citizenry. When citizens feel safe, they are more likely to participate in the local economy, engage in community activities, and trust local institutions.These 2024 figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s CBMS suggest that Loreto is successfully building the “effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions” envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goals.