BACOLOD CITY — The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) here has begun installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in strategic areas around the city this week.
CDRRMO cluster head, Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas, said the city government purchased 39 high-definition cameras with four 59-inch television monitors amounting to PHP23 million.
Supplier Newtech Asia has deployed technical personnel to oversee the installation.
The command center is located adjacent to the CDRRMO office at the old City Hall in the downtown area.
As of Thursday, installation has been completed in 18 areas, but only the units in four areas, including those in Araneta-Luzuriaga streets, Burgos-Lacson streets, and San Juan-Rizal streets, have power supply so far.
Vargas said the cameras will be installed along the major thoroughfares, particularly on Lacson St., Araneta St., Circumferential Road, Burgos St., Lopue’s East area, BS Aquino Drive, as well as in the flyovers and the Bacolod public plaza.
“We will have cameras in all entrance and exit areas of Bacolod,” he added.
He said the CCTV system will be useful in the city’s efforts on disaster preparedness, response to road accidents, and street crime monitoring.
Vargas added that the installation of all units is expected to be completed by June 18, but they hope to finish setting up the 360-degree camera at the plaza by June 12 in time for the Independence Day event.
Dondon Parandas, officer-in-charge of CDRRMO, said the command center will operate round-the-clock with personnel to be assigned in shifts.
“Once accidents or untoward incidents are monitored by the CCTVs, we can immediately act if there’s a need for police assistance, ambulance response, or response to fire call,” he added.
Every personnel on-duty will be assigned to monitor a particular area shown in the monitors – one each for the north side, central side, and south portion.
Parandas said the city government acquired the CCTV cameras to ensure the security and safety of the residents of Bacolod. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
