PCAC Pushes for More CCTV

The need to have more Closed-Circuit Televisions (CCTV) installed in key areas aroused following several shooting incidents in Cebu City last week.

Based on Tuesday’s meeting of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC), they concluded that the council purely recommends Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, through a proposed resolution, to  procure additional CCTV cameras which are found to be useful in solving crimes.

PCAC chairperson Engr. Eugene Elizalde said that more cameras are needed to be installed along roads across schools and other crime-prone areas such as dim-lit narrow streets.

“The concern now is that we will recommend additional cameras. What is 20 cameras? We need over a hundred. The more cameras, the better,” Elizalde added.

He also explained that though the CCTV may not stop a crime, it is still a big help since it could aid in identifying the criminals and assist policemen in solving crimes.

Other items included in the resolution are the proposed procurement of handheld digital radios that could transmit emergency calls, software to be used for the emergency hotline patrol 117, and mobile units that are capable of viewing the CCTV through an android application.

Aside from the cameras, PCAC will also discuss on the possibility of formally setting up and maintaining the hotline number 117 for emergency calls, which is the national emergency telephone number of the Philippines managed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), during their next meeting.

PCAC is the policy-making body of City Hall which reviews security measures, formulates laws and recommends appropriate actions concerning the peace and order of the city. (Gessa Gunhuran, PIO Staff)