Fil-Chinese community 1st recipient of ‘call box system’

The Filipino-Chinese community in the Escolta-Binondo-Ongpin area could be the first recipient of the Western Police District’s state-of-the-art multi-purpose phone report box system which would reportedly enhance police visibility and speed up crime reporting.

Also being considered as pilot areas for the project are the Ermita Tourist Belt and the Sampaloc University Belt area.

WPD sources said several Filipino-Chinese businessmen are willing to finance the project without cost to the city government after WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong approved the restoration of the pre-war police "call box system" in the city of Manila. The WPD is now awaiting the approval of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza to start the project.

In a letter to Atienza, Bulaong endorsed the conversion of the old police box scheme and facility into a multi-purpose phone report box system utilizing the latest state-of-the-art technology in telecommunications. "The district interposes no objection as the project would enhance a great contribution to police operations geared toward maximum police visibility in community service," the letter further said.

Under the pre-war police call box system, line beat patrolers are required to call and report to their superiors the hourly situation in their areas of responsibility through telephones installed in strategic locations. The system was proven successful as beat patrolers became familiar with their areas of responsibility and even regained the respect and confidence of the people in the locality.

The system, however, was disrupted because the interconnecting communications cables laid underground along the various city streets were destroyed due to roadway improvement projects.

It was retired police Capt. Alfredo Ballat, who was the former chief of the communications division of the then Manila Police Department, who conceptualized the reactivation and installation of a multi-purpose phone report box system.

An engineer by profession, Ballat said his model system will provide the Manila police with fool-proof means of communications system and facility that would enhance the efficiency and reliability of police foot patrol. – Nestor Etolle