The City Council has approved late Wednesday afternoon the P7 million lease of a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system for Dumaguete City after the City Peace and Order Council made its recommendation.
The Councilors who voted for the lease of a CCTV system were Alan Gel Cordova, Karissa Tolentino, Joe Kenneth Arbas, Lani Ramon, Michael Bandal, Manny Arbon, and Association of Barangay Councils President Lionel Banogon.
Not one councilor voted against the lease.
However, four of the councilors abstained from the decision, namely, Agustin Miguel Perdices, Estanislao Alviola, JV Imbo, and Chaco Sagarbarria.
They explained that their abstention does not mean they are against the procurement of the CCTV cameras that would help improve the City’s peace and order, but that they preferred for the local government to actually buy a CCTV system rather than to just rent.
It would cost the City government at least P70 million for the purchase, versus the P7 million rental for one year.
Members of the City Peace and Order Council earlier endorsed leasing the CCTV system for a period of one year.
The amount includes the installation of 350 cameras for all of the City’s 30 barangays.
Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo had previously reiterated that the City government must acquire the CCTV system to help the police in their fight against criminality.
It was not immediately known when the CCTV system will be installed as this has to go through a process such as bidding and determining the locations for the security cameras.
The CPOC, which is composed of the City Prosecutor, the City Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, the National Bureau of Investigation, sectoral representatives, businessmen, and department heads of the local government, supported the contention of its Chairman Mayor Remollo that leasing the CCTV system at P7 million would be the best deal for the City.
Earlier, the Liga ng mga Barangay composed of the 30 barangay captains and headed by its President Banogon, also passed in mass motion a resolution expressing the same stand, said City Information Officer Dems Rey Demecillo.
Allies of Mayor Remollo said that it is prudent to support Mayor Remollo’s preferred mode of procuring a CCTV system that will prevent and solve crimes, boost traffic management and serve as early warning system during calamities, Demecillo added.
Remollo said he believes that if the City merely leases the CCTV system, it can always request for an upgrade based on the latest developments or breakthroughs of the technology.
Unlike when the City would have to buy all the software and hardware, including the cameras and other equipment, it will be burdened with additional and higher costs to upgrade or replace defective spare parts, and to maintain the command center.
He also dismissed fears there will be no provider who will join the bid for lease since this early, several communication companies have expressed interest to offer their services.
Aside from manifesting his support to Mayor Remollo’s preferred mode, Dumaguete Police Chief Supt. Jovito Atanacio underscored the need to speed up the installation of the CCTV system to enhance and maximize the anti-crime drive of the authorities.
City Disaster Risk-Reduction & -Management Officer Engr. Jose Chu also voiced his firm support to the proposed lease of CCTV system as the best option for the local government unit.
A feasibility study by masteral students of the College of Business Administration of Silliman University led by its Dean Atty. Gloria Futalan concluded that leasing, rather than buying the CCTV system proves to be the most cost-efficient method of procurement. (Judy Flores Partlow and Syril Repe/PNA)
