Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will soon issue a memorandum circular requiring villages to monitor closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in their communities in real time to improve security and safety.
DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño said Sunday that villages will be ordered to designate a person to monitor CCTV cameras round-the-clock, as they could deter crime.
“Dapat iyan lahat ng barangay may naka-monitor sa CCTV. Makikita mo naman doon kung may masama nang binabalak pag mino-monitor mo,” Diño said in the Balitaan sa Maynila media forum.
[Translation: In all villages, there must be people who monitor CCTV cameras. You can see there if outlaws are plotting crimes.]
Diño added the barangay officials and the police could immediately apprehend criminals if they have real-time information about the crime.
He also wanted to see more police presence on the streets to reduce crime rate.
“Yung mga pulis natin wala sa presinto. Nasa kalsada dapat kayo. Nandoon kayo sa main thoroughfares at crime-prone areas.”
[Translation: Those policemen should not stay in precincts. You are supposed to be in main thoroughfares and crime-prone areas]
Last month, the interior and local government department launched “Safe Philippines,” a CCTV-based surveillance system project in Metro Manila which seeks to maintain public order and improve response time of authorities during natural and human-induced emergencies.
