To help deter fraudulent transactions and assist buyers and sellers alike, the City of San Fernando Police Station identified strategic places known as “safe exchange zones”.
These zones will be designated with signage, will be well-lit, and monitored by video surveillance throughout the day. Here, the public can legally trade items in a safe, police-protected and camera-monitored environment.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Gamido, San Fernando chief of police, underscored the importance of conducting transactions in said zones.
“Dahil dumarami ngayon ang mga nagbebenta online at nakikipagtransaksiyon, mas minabuti nating dito sa San Fernando na magtalaga na ng safe exchange zones. Malaking tulong ito upang maiwasan ang panloloko. At dahil may CCTV [closed-circuit television camera] tayo sa mga lugar na ito, mas madali nating mahuhuli ang mga bogus sellers o buyers,” he said.
Gamido also offered some tips to the public when doing online transactions.
“Kung malaki masyado ang involved worth ng items or products, huwag silang maghesitate na lumapit sa ating police station para humingi ng assistance. At makipag-transact lamang sa may ilaw, at may CCTV na mga lugar, much better, sa ating exchange safety zones,” he added.
The chief of police further urged Fernandinos to immediately report to the nearest police station once they encountered bogus buyers or sellers.
The safe exchange zones are located in the following areas of the city: In front of Rojul Building, Barangay Telabastagan; in front of Caltex gas station at Brgy. Baliti; in front of Metropolitan Cathedral, Brgy. Sto Rosario; in front of Arc Entrance, Brgy. Sta. Teresita; COMPAC 3, Brgy. Sindalan; SACOP Police Station; in front of Cleofers Building, Brgy. Sta. Lucia; Sindalan Stoplight; and, Del Rosario Stoplight.
For his part, Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago made an appeal to Fernandino buyers and sellers.
“Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, wala na sanang gumawa ng masama sa kapwa. Mamuhay po tayo nang may konsensya at malasakit sa iba dahil pare-pareho po tayong apektado ng krisis,” the mayor said.
Further, in Circular No. 2020-050, Santiago ordered the barangay captains to re-establish barangay control points to help police in screening people coming from outside Pampanga by manning the ingress and egress points of their areas and bringing all Persons Under Monitoring in their isolation units.