City dads continue protest against CCTV purchase

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has continued questioning the purchase of 30 units of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras worth P15 million by the executive department.

In yesterday's executive session, at least three councilors have complained that the P500,000 cost for each camera is too expensive when the city could have purchased some P10,000 to P15,000 worth of each unit.

"Half a million for each unit seems a very large amount," said Councilor Margot Osmeña.

Osmeña, who heads the committee on budget and finance, further asked the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) the basis of the procurement of the cameras, saying that the executive department was unusually too quick in paying the units when there are other matters that need priority.

Councilors Sisinio Andales and Nestor Archival affirmed Osmeña's statement, saying that the P500,000 amount is too much.

Councilor Philip Zafra who heads the Association of  Barangay Councils reacted that said cameras are expensive because of its system, which include the software and Internet connectivity.

"It's the system that we are paying," Zafra told his colleagues.

Zafra further said that the procurement of the CCTV cameras were already deliberated by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) and that Mayor Michael Rama approved the purchase receipt before this was forwarded to BAC.

The cameras were already installed in the different intersections in the city and in the Office of the Mayor at the basement of  the City Hall's executive building, a matter Osmeña also questioned as she hinted that the Mayor's office is not disaster-prone.

Zafra told Osmeña that the armored van that deals with the City Treasurer's Office passes near the Mayor's office.

The council is requesting LDRRMC operations officer Alvin Santillana and Hello Marketing, the supplier of the camera units, to appear in the next executive session scheduled on February 5.

Osmeña also requested BAC to furnish the council a copy of the complete set of documentation, bidding process, and purchase receipts, among others.

The council earlier even asked a full blown investigation on the said procurement of the cameras, which were bought using the LDRRMC Fund for 2013.

The matter has been tackled during the council's regular session and executive session late last year. —  (FREEMAN)