Advisers

Legeline Tumapon

Discipline

Criminology

Abstract

Emergency hotlines are vital tools for ensuring public safety, allowing communities to quickly report crimes and other incidents to authorities. In Barangay Libtong, Meycauayan City, residents rely on an emergency hotline to access prompt assistance from barangay officials and police officers. Despite its availability, issues such as delayed responses, limited public awareness, and coordination problems may reduce its effectiveness. This study aimed to assess the importance of the emergency hotline in preventing crimes by examining public awareness, support from the response team, and response time. A descriptive research design was employed, with 80 respondents participating, including 50 community residents, 20 barangay officials, and 10 police officers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire focusing on awareness of the hotline, the efficiency of the support team, and response times during emergencies. Questionnaires were personally distributed and retrieved to ensure high response rates. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and the Kruskal–Wallis H test to identify significant differences in responses based on demographic characteristics. The findings reveal that most respondents were 18–25 years old, predominantly male, married, and college educated. Respondents strongly agreed that they are aware of the emergency hotline and its importance in reporting crimes. They also agreed that barangay officials and police officers assist in responding to calls, although operator training and response efficiency were rated lower. While the hotline is accessible and useful, some respondents experienced delays and communication issues. Overall, the hotline plays a significant role in crime reporting and community safety, though response efficiency requires improvement. These results suggest that emergency hotlines effectively support crime prevention by facilitating timely communication between residents and authorities. Enhancing training for operators, improving coordination among responders, and increasing public awareness of hotline numbers can further strengthen the system. By addressing these challenges, the emergency hotline can foster greater community trust, encourage citizen participation, and contribute to maintaining peace and order in Barangay Libtong.

Keywords

crime prevention, community safety, emergency hotline, barangay libtong