CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA)—The Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A said more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are needed to ensure responsiveness of the 911 emergency hotline.
Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Police Director for Calabarzon, enlisted the support of local governments to expand CCTV coverage in their areas noting that additional CCTV cameras would improve police response, enhance real-time monitoring, and enable faster incident validation.
“What we want to promote is the installation of CCTVs. This is what I ask (of LGUs): if possible, they should support our police by requiring business establishments to install CCTV cameras. Even in the absence of police officers, the presence of CCTV can help deter those who intend to commit crimes,” he said.
According to PRO 4A, timely access to surveillance footage has proven crucial in solving crimes and tracking down suspects. The data gathered through CCTV systems also provide law enforcers with credible evidence, helping expedite investigations and improve conviction rates, making them a vital support to the 911 national emergency hotline.
In line with the national government’s push for safer communities under the Bagong Pilipinas campaign, the PRO 4A has been working closely with LGUs to integrate local surveillance systems with police command centers to build a unified, tech-assisted emergency network across the region.
“Also, from experience, all crimes that occur as long as they are caught by CCTV, we can be assured that the police will identify and arrest them, that is our experience. Our police are good at back-tracking our CCTVs, so that is a program we want to strengthen in support of police visibility,” Wanky stated.
The Philippine National Police continues to advocate for smarter policing strategies that include modern surveillance and emergency response integration reassuring the public that all efforts are being made to ensure faster, more efficient service to every call received through 911. (AM/PIA 4A)