The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. has expressed optimism that the Dumaguete City government’s proposal to lease out the Closed Circuit Television system instead of purchasing it would be a better option.
The multi-awarded chamber, having received international and local recognition from different groups, has always been supportive of efforts to improve the image of Dumaguete City by helping find solutions to problems like traffic and criminality.
In an interview late Thursday afternoon, NOCCI President Edward Du pointed out that “if renting will come out more advantageous to the city government, then why not?”, adding that the latter will also be relieved of the problem of management, operation and maintenance of the CCTV equipment.
City Hall announced earlier that it is mulling the idea of leasing out 300 to 350 CCTV units as aside from the huge cost to purchase the same, it would also entail the maintenance of cameras and period upgrade of the technology.
It would cost the Dumaguete local government about P75 million to acquire the CCTV cameras to include the construction of support facilities, said City Information Officer Dems Rey Demecillo, but leasing out everything would cost less than the said amount.
But Du said he believes that leasing might come out more expensive but it would be more practical because of the maintenance and sustainability concerns.
Nevertheless, on the part of the city, they will no longer have a “headache” because they no longer have to worry about these concerns, Du added.
Demecillo had said Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo is “awaiting the results of the cost benefit analysis to determine with finality which mode would actually be beneficial to the city government”.
The mayor has asked the public for more time before he can come up with a sound decision to determine the sustainability of the project.
Calls are mounting for the installation of CCTV cameras in strategic locations in the city as the traffic problem is getting worse, apart from these equipment being helpful to the police in solving crimes and keeping the peace, said Demecillo.
Demecillo said the police have already helped identify the priority areas for the installation of CCTV cameras in the city’s 30 barangays. (JFP)
