San Juan tries out digital crime reporting app

Residents of San Juan City can now report crimes digitally and expect quick police response with the launch of eReport and iReport under the eGov PH super app on Wednesday.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora led the launch and pilot test where he highlighted how fast police were able to respond to reports sent through the app. “Once the crime is reported, the three closest police officers to the scene of the crime will get a notification,” he said. “Based on our simulation, the fastest response time in San Juan is one minute and 37 seconds.”

A joint project of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine National Police, the eReport is a customer feedback component of the eGov PH super app. The eGov app is a single operating platform of the government that enables users to avail of front-line services using their mobile device.

Through eReport, users can report crimes as well as submit complaints, concerns and other issues with just a few clicks of their phones. Reports made through eReport are then received through the Law Enforcement Management System or iReport of the PNP, which will forward the report to the nearest patrol officer on duty so they can respond in just a few minutes or hand it over to an investigator.

READ: eReport, e-LGU apps launched to curb crime, give quick services

Data from police reports that are recorded in iReport can also be used for future planning and implementation.

Zamora assured users that “prank” messages or reports would not clog up the app because of its verification process. “Not anyone can just download the app … because there is a verification process that they will have to undergo to prove that they are a true resident [of San Juan City],” he said. “[O]nce you register … you now have information identification data that the DICT can trace.”

Police Brig. Gen. Jerry Protacio, the eReport and iReport project manager, also guaranteed the confidentiality of users.

“These platforms are not just about collecting feedback, it’s about fostering a stronger connection between the law enforcement and the community we serve,” said Police Brig. Gen. Neil Alinsañgan, acting director for ICT management of the PNP. “Public safety is a shared responsibility and your active participation is integral to our success.”