ILOILO City – The city government will purchase 360 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and install these on major streets, crime- and accident-prone areas. The soon-to-be operational state-of-the-art Iloilo City Action and Response (ICARE) Center in Mandurriao district will serve as command post.
Through a centralized emergency operation center, the city government aims to establish an integrated security, emergency and disaster response network that brings safety services closer to the people, said Donna Magno, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
The ICARE and its satellite centers will receive calls for assistance related to crime, vehicular accidents, medical emergencies, even for the transport of coronavirus disease patients.
The security cameras will be ICARE’s “eyes on the ground.” They would make the monitoring of the city’s peace and order situation easy, including even the flow of traffic, said Magno.
The 360 security cameras are just initial purchases. More will be bought, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.
“Once they are set up, makit-an ta na kon sin-o naga- obra sang vandalism,” the city mayor said.
Information reached him that many heritages sites and building in the city were being vandalized.
More streetlights will be installed, too, across the city, added Treñas.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) recently reported that crimes in this city (murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping-motor vehicle, and carnapping-motorcycle) actually dropped in the first quarter of 2022 – 81 cases from 130 in the same quarter in 2021.
Treñas said he would order the City Legal Office to study increasing the penalties for vandals.
Vandalism refers to willful acts that damage or deface property belonging to another person or to the public.
The anti-vandalism ordinance of Iloilo City prohibits writing, drawing, painting, marking or inscribing on any public property or private property any word, slogan, caricature, drawing, mark or affixing, posting up or displaying on any public property or private property any advertisement, bill or notice, without the consent of the owner.
Under the ordinance, violators face the maximum fine of P5,000 plus community service.
“Ginhawa sang mga owners magpatahum sang mga heritagebuildings nila tapos amo pa ‘ni nga sitwasyon. Kalabanan nga mga na-vandalize nga mga buildingsduring sang lockdown. Waay sang mga opisina, sarado ang tanan” so there were no eyewitnesses to pinpoint the culprits, he lamented.
According to Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu, heightened surveillance is part of Treñas’ “WHEELS” roadmap for inclusive development and good governance.
WHEELS focuses on eight priority areas – Welfare, Health and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability./PN
