BAUKO, Mountain Province – The municipal government mandated the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in strategic areas in all its 22 barangays to deter the commission of crimes and sustain the aggressive law and order campaign and disaster response of the present administration.
Mayor Abraham B. Akilit said that the efficiency and effectivity of the CCTV cameras piloted in one of the town’s barangays was proven as the people who often do drinking sessions late at night reportedly go home early while young people who loiter in various places are now conscious of their actions.
“The successful pilot testing of the installation of the CCTV cameras in strategic areas in Guinzadan served as our basis in deciding to work out the installation of CCTV cameras in all the town’s twenty two barangays within the year,” Mayor Akilit stressed.
The municipal chief executive disclosed the budget for the purchase of the CCTV cameras for the barangays will be shared by the municipal and barangay governments to instil ownership of the barangays of the project so that barangay officials and residents endeavour to ensure the protection of the cameras from being unduly damaged by unscrupulous individuals.
According to him, the installation of CCTV cameras in all the barangays of the municipality will not only serve as a deterrent to the commission of crimes but it will also help in closely monitoring the prevailing situation in the barangays and help in the immediate identification of areas that may be affected by natural and human-induced disasters.
He added he will issue the required executive order to operationalize the CCTV project in the town’s barangays to compel the compliance of the barangay officials in providing their counterpart in the purchase of the said device beneficial in improving the law and order situation in their areas of jurisdiction.
Akilit assured concerned stakeholders the CCTV cameras to be installed will be of ace quality to ensure they last for their prescribed economic life so as to maximize their benefits in maintaining law and order in the villages.
Bauko is composed of 22 barangays and plays host to most parts of the Mount Data National Park, the head waters of 4 major river systems, providing abundant water supply for domestic, irrigation, power generation, agriculture among other uses for people living in lowland communities in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon regions.
Akilit also revealed the installation of CCTV cameras in the municipal hall did well for the municipal government because employees are always on their toes to attend to the needs of their clients and that there are now a few people spending much of their time outside their offices.
He called on the barangay officials to support the plan of the local government to improve its law and order initiatives because the reign of peace will surely translate to better benefits which the people.
By HENT