COTABATO CITY, March 2 (PNA) — To improve its crime prevention campaign, the Cotabato City government on Monday started installing another set of close circuit television cameras in the city’s strategic locations.
Twenty-four high resolution CCTVS will be installed on top of the earlier CCTV cameras put up in various areas in the city.
The cameras will be installed in areas identified by the the Cotabato City Police Office. Most of these areas are considered crime prone or areas where crimes are likely to happen.
“This is the second phase of the project,” Aniceto Rasalan, secretary to the mayor, told reporters.
The first phase was completed in the year 2011 with 12 units of CCTV cameras put up in different parts of the city’s downtown area.
According to Rasalan, all the installed cameras were still working properly and proven effective in crime prevention and solution.
“Effective siya, dahil nakatulong sa pagsolve ng crimes, pero may mga criminal na wise din, lumipat sila ng lugar dun sa walang CCTV cameras (It was proven to be effective in solving crimes but some lawless elements were wise, they carry out criminalities in areas where there’s no CCTV cameras). So in phase 2 we hope to cover all crime prone areas,” Rasalan said.
Rasalan said at least Php 10 million had been allotted for the CCTV project under this year’s budget.
According to the city police, they will have to expand the coverage of CCTV cameras because at least 72 cameras are needed to cover all strategic areas.
Police Supt. Marcy S. Salting, deputy police director for operations of the city PNP, said they could not pin point the location of the installation of cameras, until such time that they come up with the parameters and a study that determines the areas which are prone to crime incidents.
Salting said the installation of the CCTV Cameras was to reduce crime, and hopefully this year, it would contribute to crime solution.
Rasalan said the city government would also be distributing 12 motorcycles, eight of which will be given to the city police along with the community equipment which includes radio, while four motorcycles will be given to the different department offices.
Four of the 12 motorcycles will have side cars and will be distributed this month.
Moreover, the city government will also be distributing 30 units of vehicles (multicabs) to the barangays on the middle of March for effective crime prevention and mobility of village officials for better services.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management office will also be given one of the multicabs. (PNA)