Better late than never.
We're talking about the recent move
of the Philippine National Police to set up 300 closed-circuit television
(CCTV) in crime-prone areas in Metro Manila.
It's a rather late realization on
the part of the PNP that CCTVs are a big help in preventing and solving crimes
since other big cities with more progressive outlooks and bigger budgets have
already installed them many years ago.
The crime-prone areas where the
CCTVs will be set up are Monumento in Caloocan; Makati; Mandaluyong; Pasig;
Baclaran-Pasay; Taguig; EDSA-West Avenue; Quirino Highway, Commonwealth Avenue
and East Avenue in Quezon City, and Sampaloc, Ermita and Tondo in Manila.
Sixteen of these CCTVs are already
operational at the Pasay-EDSA-Taft, a
busy junction in the metropolis that's the loading and unloading point for
public utility vehicles.
The installation of CCTVs near
universities is also on track and would be completed by June.
The CCTVs costing P9 million would
be maintained by police units with
jurisdiction over the areas.
This, we believe, will
significantly boost the peace and order campaign.
CCTVs will not necessarily deter
criminals from preying on hapless citizens, or prevent punks and the
criminal-minded from breaking the law with impunity. But they can help
authorities in identifying perpetrators of
various crimes against persons and property.
High-resolution CCTVs in particular
that can capture crimes in progress will keep communities one step ahead of
criminals.
We must emphasize, however, that
CCTVs cannot be a substitute for
heightened police visibility.
Roving cops complemented by CCTVs,
plus a vigilant citizenry, can ensure the safety and security of neioghborhoods
and help defend vulnerable communities from those intent on committing murder
and mayhem. -end-
Image by ghskills.com
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