Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 7) – Traffic enforcers will start using body cameras in August to record their apprehension of motorists who violate traffic rules, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Don Artes said.
“Ang purpose po kasi nito ay one, for prevention po ng pangongotong dahil ito pong body-worn cameras ay na-mo-monitor real-time sa ating command center, at may tao tayong ia-assign para i-monitor po ito,” Artes said Wednesday during a meeting with its stakeholders.
[Translation: The purpose of this is, one, to prevent extortion, since the body-worn cameras are monitored in real-time in our command center, and we will assign a person to monitor.]
“Pangalawa, proteksiyon ito sa mga motorista para kung gusto niyo i-contest yung pagkakahuli, at yung manner ng pagkakahuli kung may mga discourteous kaming mga empleyado,” he added.
[Translation: Second, this protects our motorists in case they want to contest their apprehension, and the manner of apprehension should there be discourteous employees.]
Artes also said the body cameras, which cost about ₱60,000 each, record videos and audio that will also discourage motorists from bribing traffic enforcers.
“Yung per unit kasi parang pumatak siya nasa [₱]60,000. Pero may kasamang pong three-year subscription sa SIM card. Double SIM po ito, so may three-year po na kasama na subscription. Para po kasi naka-link po ito eh, may subscription siya ng simcard sa telco,” Artes said.
[Translation: The body cameras cost about ₱60,000 per unit. But this includes a three-year subscription with a SIM card. This is a double SIM that includes a three-year subscription so that it is linked to a telco.]
The agency has bought 120 body cameras under the ₱24-million project. With about 3,000 traffic enforcers, Artes said MMDA constables who issue citation tickets will be given priority in the use the cameras.
The use of body cameras, which have six to eight hours of battery life, is part of the implementation of the single ticketing system.
The single ticketing system aims to centralize traffic enforcement in Metro Manila.
RELATED: Pilot run of NCR’s single ticketing system starts next month
CNN Philippines correspondent Gerg Cahiles and multiplatform news writer Celine Serquiña contributed to this story.
