Crime Statistics in Tondo: Is it Getting Safer?
okay, so i moved to tondo last year and everyone kept asking me if i was crazy. i get it-tondo has a reputation. but here's the thing: the data says something different than the rumors.
*tondo's crime rate dropped by 18% between 2019 and 2023*, according to the manila police district. that's not nothing. but stats only tell half the story. the other half is what you feel walking down the street at 7pm, dodging puddles and street vendors selling balut.
the weather here? unpredictable. one minute it's sunny, the next you're soaked. but that's tondo-messy, alive, never boring. and if you're wondering what's nearby, intramuros is just a short drive away, and so is binondo, the oldest chinatown in the world.
i asked a local tricycle driver what he thought. "mas safe na ngayon," he said. "pero mag-ingat pa rin." ("it's safer now, but still be careful.")
here's what i've noticed:
- night markets are packed but feel secure
- police patrols are more visible near major roads
- petty theft still happens, but violent crime is down
overheard from a barista: "my cousin got mugged here in 2018. hasn't happened to anyone i know since 2021." that's anecdotal, sure, but it matches the trend.
if you're planning to visit or move here, check out tripadvisor's tondo guide for updated safety tips. and maybe don't flash your iphone 15 while walking through narrow alleys.
the truth is, tondo is changing. slowly, imperfectly, but it's happening. and if you're the type who likes raw, real places with character, this might just be your kind of chaos.
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