City calls on PUJs to avail of dash cams

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Transportation Office is calling on operators of public utility jeepneys to inform their drivers of the free dashboard cameras from the city government.

CCTO operations chief Francisco Ouano said only 60 of the 600 drivers have secured a travel line certificate have submitted requirements for free security cameras.

Ouano said the drivers may have to be informed personally or through other means of communication because many of them may not have Facebook accounts. CCTO made the announcement about the cameras first on Facebook.

Last week, CCTO sent letters to the operators.

CCTO started accepting documentary requirements from drivers on March 6. Drivers need to present an official receipt, franchise, and travel line certificate.

"Atong gipahibaw atoang mga drivers ug operators nga wala pa naka-submit sa dokumento sa amoang opisina nga mo-submit na. Once mahatag na, naa'y MOA ana kay libre man gud ning gihatag sa ilaha (We would like to inform our drivers and operators who have not submitted the documents to submit them now. Once they have submitted, they would have to sign a Memoradum of Agreement because these cameras are given for free)," Ouano said.

The city bought the dashboard cameras in an effort to help suppress criminality and improve the peace and order situation here.

Dashboard cameras record sounds and images from the road and from inside the vehicle.

In many instances, footage from these cameras has clarified details and identified people involved in a variety of incidents.

Ouano hopes that the drivers would avail of the cameras the soonest possible time. He said the 1,000 cameras will be distributed this month as long as all units are delivered.

He said the city will prioritize the drivers here but it is also willing to accommodate drivers from neighboring cities.

"Six hundred plus ang naa'y travel line sa Cebu City alone… we also consider drivers from Mandaue and Talisay (There are over 600 drivers with travel lines in Cebu City alone… we are also willing to accommodate drivers from Mandaue and Talisay)," Ouano said.

The dashboard cameras are expected to be distributed within this month as soon as the 1,000 units will be delivered.

Ouano said CCTO will monitor the dashboard cameras to ensure that the drivers are using them properly. —  JMO (FREEMAN)