Barangay Calamba integrates command center inaugurated

CEBU, Philippines — Aiming to adapt the advanced and digitalized enforcement of public safety, disaster and emergency response, and peace and order in the local community, a command center has been inaugurated in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City yesterday, July 10.

The launching of the new barangay facility was led by Calamba Barangay Captain Ester Concha, together with Cebu City Councilors Dave Tumulak, Francis Esparis, Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa, Harry Eran, and Michelle Abella, and some personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and Cebu City Police Station 6.

In an interview with The Freeman, Concha said that the barangay shifted to digital means because of the “trend,” highlighting that it offers convenience for the local authorities in monitoring public safety, responding to emergencies, and spreading announcements.

“Mao nama'y trend diba… Dali ra sab sa taga barangay nga mu-identify didto or dunay i-anunsyo,” she said.

The barangay captain also disclosed that the facility cost up to P3.7 million and was allocated from the P5-million budget donated by the city government.

Concho said that one of the key features of the command center is the Emergency Response Pole System, which is designed with CCTV cameras, solar-powered lamps, digital clocks, and an inter-communication device.

The data gathered through the abovementioned system will be transmitted to the  command center through a program powered by Barangay Integrated System (BiS).

She added that there are already five emergency response poles that were installed in each of the five sitios. However, she clarified that more of them are yet to be installed in all the 16 sitios of the barangay.

Since the command center will be operating 24/7, Concha said that the barangay officials will reach out to the councilors, requesting the city government for an additional budget for the installation of more emergency poles and the compensation for the barangay staff workers who will monitor round the clock.

As the first barangay in Cebu City that has established a command center, Concho shared that its implementation is a "necessity", emphasizing that it will ease the workload of the police officers in the city.

“It’s a necessity. Kun aduna say ingon ani nga sistema in all other barangays, murag ma-unload ang atoang kapolisan and it will be easier for them to do the monitoring—so much more in the city,” she said.

Aside from monitoring the possible criminalities in the barangay, Concho also said that the command system will also help them keep an eye on the illegal garbage disposal, traffic condition, and other unwanted activities within the barangay.

In a separate interview, BiS consultant Buen Tabliga of NextSteps Solutions told The Freeman that the advance system was inspired from global trends and was brought to the barangay-level, aiming to promote swift actions and to lessen the paper transactions in emergency response.

“We are trying to do less paperwork and faster delivery of the service. So mao na atong gi kuan sa barangay para at least we are going to compete dile lang dire sa mga barangay kundi sa global arena at least dile pod ta mauwahi kaayo,” he said.

Tabliga also added that the command center also features a Centralized Database System, wherein the information of the constituents of the barangay are managed in one system.

Moreover, a Facial Recognition System, which is based on the conducted barangay profiling, was also programmed to seamlessly identify and trace the people caught by the CCTV cameras.

If not identified by the system, it indicates that the person is not a resident of the barangay.

Apart from Barangay Calamba as the pioneering barangay to establish the new and digitalized system, Tabliga said that other barangays in Cebu City are also under way to implement the same system, including barangays Ermita, Luz, Basak-Pardo, Bulacao, and Pahina Central.

Tabliga added that they are also expanding the system across other areas outside Cebu City, including barangays in Toledo City, Naga City, Minglanilla, Mandaue City, Consolacion and Lapu-Lapu City.

Meanwhile, Police Captain Wilson Orapa of Cebu City Police Station 6 said that the newly established command center in Barangay Calamba, which is also part of their area of responsibility, aids the police force in resolving crimes, particularly in their investigation through their video footage.

“Dako na kaayo og tabang sa kapulisan, ilabi na sa pagsulbad sa krimen. Kay kini siya man gud kay maka-record sa kung unsay mga panghitabo sa gawas… So naa tay mga footage sa mga CCTV nga atong magamit sa pagsulbad sa maong krimen aron ma-identify ang posible nga suspek,” he said. JG CEBU NEWS