Legazpi City (5 June) — The city government here is set to install Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) in 11 strategic locations to monitor the flow of traffic and pre-empt petty crimes in the city’s business centers, schools, churches, main streets and other public areas. During the meeting of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) held Monday at the City Hall, Mayor Noel E. Rosal disclosed that the CCTV cameras will effectively monitor the traffic situation in busy intersections and help prevent crimes and at the same time document crimes in progress.

Rosal was impressed during his recent visit to Davao City, wherein the police operation center is equipped with video surveillance cameras that are now installed in different parts of the city. “Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told me about the effectiveness of CCTV in deterring crimes and documenting progressing crimes and identities of perpetrators. The law enforcers even come up with usable video evidence in prosecuting criminals,” he noted.

“I already directed my staff to canvass how much the city government would have to spend for the installation of wireless CCTV cameras and identify the locations where these surveillance equipment will be put up,” Rosal said during the meeting. The mayor has also directed the city’s chief of police, C/Supt. Edgardo L. Ardales, to train a quick response team who will man the operation center and respond to emergencies monitored through these CCTV cameras on a 24/7 basis.

Meanwhile, Councilor Rolly Rosal, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Public Safety and Order, has also fielded as early as Monday the initial 14 member-agents in plain clothes to serve as eyes and ears of the city police.

The group is called Legazpi City Civilian Anti-Crime Group.

Source: EA De Leon, Legazpi City to install CCTV cameras, Philippine Information Agency, accessed on June 7, 2009