City now has working CCTV

CEBU, Philippines - Responding to crimes and emergencies is expected to be faster and more coordinated now that closed-circuit television cameras installed in key areas in the Cebu City are already functioning.

This was according to Cebu City Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) presiding officer Eugene Elizalde during a media briefing yesterday.

“We are very happy that the city of Cebu has finally installed CCTV in key areas. This is three years or more in the making,” Elizalde told reporters.

From the originally proposed budget of P60million, Elizalde said the council approved only P15 million but their office is maximizing the resources and hopes for more support in the coming council.

PCAC has identified 91 sites where CCTV cameras are installed based on meetings with the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Traffic Operations Management, City Disaster Risk Reduction Office, among others.

“This is all purpose. It is not just purely considered for police monitoring but also for the fire department. Which areas are most passed by, with most people, not necessarily crime prone since the entire city is considered crime prone,” he added.

Considering the budget, PCAC has so far acquired and installed 30 cameras with electricity provided by VECO and internet connection by PLDT.

Aside from the command center at the Management Information and Computer Services (MICS) office, concerned agencies can also monitor the live footage via remote control.

“These agencies, even the mayor, can actually monitor the streets. The command center will give them password to access it via their own computer or gadget,” the PCAC chief explained.

While the technology has yet to show statistics as far as crimes and emergencies addressed, he stressed that this has helped authorities in Manila.

Elizalde said this technology will help in the monitoring this coming May 13 elections.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, for his part, said his administration has been longing to implement this project.

Apart from the areas identified by PCAC and other agencies in the city proper, Rama also wanted future cameras to be installed in densely populated barangays of Guadalupe, Talamban, Tisa, Labangon and Lahug among others. —/MBG (FREEMAN)