Governor announces plans to put surveillance cameras on 2 bridges

The Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board, chaired by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, has asked the same firm which installed the surveillance security cameras at the Capitol offices and Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) to lower the price of the same device to be installed at two bridges both linking Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City.

During the MCBMB meeting yesterday morning, California Electronics made a presentation of the digital close circuit television (CCTV) that will be installed at the two bridges.

However, the price offer for the 12 CCTVs that will be installed at the two bridges is about the same price that the provincial government paid for the installation of 38 surveillance cameras at the Capitol and at the CPDRC.

The governor in her regular news conference yesterday afternoon said the MCBMB will definitely pursue its plan to install security cameras in both bridges but only when the firm gets to reduce the price.

Garcia asked that it be reduced by more than one-half of the price it has offered for the 12 security cameras.

"Definitely magbutang gyud ta, especially in anticipation of the ASEAN summit but unya na'g mosugot s'ya di mi mobuhi sa piso og di malumping. So ingon ko reduce to lowest terms so he's going to make another proposal," the governor said.

The digital CCTV will be connected to the Lapu-Lapu police station, Capitol's emergency coordination center, the governor's 3G phone, and probably to the Police Regional Office (PRO-7).

Nevertheless, if negotiation with the firm is going to fail then the second option is to strike a deal with another company, which offers a wireless security system.

Apparently, the MCBMB wants to see to it that their funds would be spent wisely.

As of April, the MCBMB'c funds already reached over P3 million, of which P2.8 million was invested into treasury bills and special savings deposits.

"Because we should not only be custodian of funds we should be finance managers. Ato gyud na pug-on most benefits out of every peso," Garcia said.

The MCBMB's funds are now under a trust account handled by Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, who is required to render a financial statement every time the MCBMB meets. - Cristina C. Birondo