SECTOR COMMANDER’S TOOLKIT

One of the biggest challenges for neighborhood watch groups (like our LGVHAI Sectoral
Network) is getting neighbors involved and keeping them engaged over time, especially
when crime is low. It’s also really hard to get people to attend meetings regularly, much less
to volunteer to become a Sector Commander like you did. But these are different times, and
we have growing threats, and the Pandemic Influenza calls for a different kind of community
spirit.

To effectively address crime, and the fear of massive viral contamination, the whole
neighborhood should regularly practice ”bayanihan” and continuing vigilance. Especially
now, the threat of a massive infection of COVID-19 threatens our whole village, the whole of
Metro Manila, not to mention that it is now a global pandemic.

So, how do we get more people involved? First off, our village officials have already put into
motion several strategies and action plans to both address our security and safety concerns.
Now comes your part as Sector Commander and the part of the individual household to
make these strategies and plans more effective.

As Sector Commander, many of you already know your immediate neighbors. Many of you
are likely communicating with your neighbors and those who are not yet involved in crime
prevention efforts as well as our COVID-19 infection prevention efforts.

While it’s critical to meet in person to engage in crime and COVID-19 infection prevention
activities, it’s not always possible for all your neighbors to meet in person. Communicating
virtually or by mobile phone are the next best thing.

When you do meet in person, or meet a new neighbor, use the occasion to know how each
member of the household in your sector is doing, how their food supply is, how their health
is, and if they have any special concerns like elderly or sickly members – or even a lack of
private transportation.

Below are seven (7) tips on how you as Sector Commander can become more effective in
your role:

1. Invite all of the heads of the families in your sector to join your sectoral network (if
possible, in person, but maintaining physical distancing of at least one meter). Inviting your
fellow sector members is the most important step because the more members that join your
sectoral network, the easier it is to establish trust and confidence, share information and
organize your efforts.

2. Spread the word to all neighbors. Divide up responsibility for recruiting neighbors on a
house by house basis to ensure that as many neighbors as possible join your sectoral network.
The more neighbors that are on sectoral network, the more eyes there are looking out for
the neighborhood.
3. Organize in-person events and meetings when you can (again, maintaining social
distancing). Organize a sectoral network meeting to get to know your neighbors so that each
of you can keep an eye out for each other.

In this connection, both the LGVHAI Board and the Security Committee will also endeavor to
invite representatives from our local law enforcement and health agencies as well as
city/municipal officials to attend the meeting to connect with our residents, answer
questions, and address concerns.

4. Register your phone number with each member of the sectoral network’s head of the
household in order to get urgent alerts from neighbors and emergency alerts from village
officials or the Communications Committee via mobile phone text messages. Neighbors can
send urgent alerts when they notice suspicious activity or serious safety issues. To be notified
via text message, each household must register a designated phone number with the Sector
Commander and/or the Communications Committee.

5. Make sure that your neighbors in your sectoral network don’t miss out on important alerts
about suspicious activity or safety issues. Ask them to register their phone numbers if they
haven’t done it yet.

6. Report suspicious activity or safety issues to the OIC Security and/or the Security
Committee.

7. Sector Commanders much also be able to communicate with each other, with the OIC
Security, and with the Security Committee.

Be Safe

Don't put yourself in harm's way or engage a suspect to gather more details about the
situation.
Your safety is paramount.

Call Our Village Security

If you think that a crime may be occurring, or that the safety of you or your neighbors may be
at risk, do not hesitate to call our security personnel.

Even if you are unsure as to what is going on, the best thing to do is to let our security guards
respond first. They shall be our link to our law enforcement agencies, if the situation requires
it.

Communicate Judiciously – Distinguish between Urgent Alerts vs. a regular post

Post an Urgent Alert if someone's safety or property is at risk and if the issue has occurred
within the last 10 minutes. If you just witnessed the behavior, call our security personnel.
Then post an Urgent Alert so that your neighbors will be notified of the situation by text
message.
Remember that Urgent Alerts need to be short, so you'll need to be descriptive, yet
concise.

How to post your Crime & Safety message to help everyone in your sectoral network stay
safe:

1. WHAT - focus on the behavior that raised your suspicion. Describe the potentially criminal
or dangerous activity you observed or experienced - what the person was doing, what they
said (if they spoke to you). Include the direction they were last headed.

2. WHO - give as full a description as possible of the person, people, or vehicles involved.
Include as many details as possible - age, height, weight, hair, clothing, and identifiable
marks, not just sex and skin color. For vehicles, make, model, plate, and direction of travel are
helpful.

3. WHERE - location matters. Provide specific streets or intersections whenever possible. If

the
location is in a large area such as a park, provide a landmark within that location where the
incident occurred (e.g. "at the basketball court,” “in the clubhouse," etc.).