Iloilo City, Philippines – Village officials in Iloilo City have been advised to allocate funds for the acquisition and installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to enhance their anti-criminality efforts. This recommendation was made by Maria Irene Ong, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay Iloilo City chapter, emphasizing the importance of surveillance in ensuring community safety.
According to Philippines News Agency, who spoke in an interview on Thursday, barangays without ongoing projects should prioritize the installation of CCTV systems. She pointed out that barangay officials are well aware of the areas within their jurisdiction that are at higher risk and would benefit from enhanced security measures. Ong highlighted the effectiveness of CCTV in monitoring suspicious activities, particularly in identifying drug-related issues.
Ong also mentioned the need for quality assurance in existing CCTV systems, advising barangays to replace any cameras that produce blurred images with clearer ones. On Wednesday, Ong proposed a resolution during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the mandatory installation of CCTV, citing the proven effectiveness of such systems in crime deterrence, prevention, detection, and resolution by law enforcement agencies.
The resolution states that barangays should include the budget for CCTV acquisition and installation in their development plan for 2025, as the budget for 2024 has already been finalized. Failure to comply with this resolution and include the budget allocation may result in the non-approval of the barangay's development plan.