MANILA, Philippines -- The Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) said it had recorded a major decline in street crime as the year progressed, while the local government vowed to provide more services and better facilities for the city’s law enforcers.

During the 69th anniversary of the QCPD at Camp Karingal on Tuesday, Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula said there had been 394 recorded crimes in the third quarter of this year, compared to 665 in the first quarter and 567 in the second quarter.

“QCPD has refocused some of its efforts, putting more resources to address street crimes, and I’m happy to report that street crime has been on a downtrend,” he added.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte vowed to provide more support to the city’s police force, disclosing plans to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at 12 major intersections across the city, providing more ammunition and better firearms, and improving the equipments of the QCPD’s scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) and Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) units.

“I would like to see a police force which is a source of pride, a source of confidence, a source of respect for the ordinary citizen. We would like to see the lowly employee walking in the cities of [Quezon City] feel assured that they will not be victimized by theft or by violence because of the presence of our policemen. We would like to see our people sleep soundly because of our QCPD,” Belmonte added.

Belmonte also vowed to improve facilities inside the QCPD, including the construction of quarters Camp Karingal.

“The police have been keeping apace, and perhaps, they have been doing better. The fact of the matter is, [Quezon City] will never be what it is without the peace and order that has resulted both from the helpers of our QCPD as well as the support of various groups. No city can ever achieve progress without peace and order. Progress cannot be achieved without peace and order,” he added.