GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The city government is pushing for the installation of closed-circuit television or CCTV cameras in public areas by next year to enhance security monitoring in the city.
Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Friday the local government has fast-tracked the procurement process for the planned city-wide project, which is part of the city’s PHP400-million synchronized traffic signaling and CCTV systems project.
Rivera said it involves the installation of about 200 high-resolution CCTV cameras in major streets and public areas within the city’s 26 barangays.
The city’s bids and awards committee has already completed the terms of reference for the purchase, he said, adding that they initially targeted to conduct the bidding next month but decided to extend it to December to facilitate the completion of other requirements.
“These CCTVs will be fully operational early next year,” the mayor said.
Aside from the CCTV’s, the project also involves the installation of at least 30 additional traffic signal lights.
Rivera, who endorsed the project as among the local government’s top priorities, has created a project management team to hasten its implementation.
Under the project, the CCTV cameras will be set up in key points within the city’s downtown area and in traffic lights.
The 24-hour monitoring and management of the CCTVs will be handled by a command center under the supervision of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The mayor said that to complement the project, the local government will strictly implement a city ordinance that requires business establishments to install their own CCTV systems.
He directed the city permits and licensing division to identify businesses that have not yet complied with the measure.
“We relaxed on that these past years. But this time, we will no longer renew the permits of establishments that have no CCTVs,” he said.
Rivera said it is important for businesses to have installed and working CCTV systems to help deter crimes and possible terror attacks.
He said they found out that no CCTV has been installed near a row of business establishments in Barangay Apopong here, where an improvised bomb exploded before noon last Sunday.
Eight people were wounded in the blast, which happened in front of a lying-in clinic beside the national highway at the Makar junction.
“The situation would have been different, especially with the investigation, if there were CCTVs installed at the site,” he added. (Allen Estabillo/PNA)
