Saturday, November 08, 2008 2 bridges’ spy cameras not working
SURVEILLANCE cameras on the two bridges that link Cebu and Mactan are not serving their purpose or making these facilities more secure, two technical inspectors from the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) found out this week.
“Kung naay nagdaag gubot niadtong Asean summit, blind jud ang kapolisan (Had there been serious trouble during the Asean summit, the police would not have seen it coming),” one inspector said.
The inspectors confirmed that the security cameras on the first bridge were disconnected and were directed away from the bridge. Cameras on the newer Fernan Bridge do not function well at night. A total of 10 cameras had been installed, but as of January this year, only two were still working.
Neda sent two technical personnel last Nov. 4 to survey both bridges, in light of the plan to install additional security cameras underneath to monitor passing ships.
Boy Arellano said that low-quality cameras were installed on the Fernan Bridge, and feedback from the security personnel indicated that at night, these cameras cannot register the plate numbers of passing vehicles, only their headlights.
On the older bridge, four cameras were installed but all their wire connections were missing. This would explain why the authorities failed to retrieve any security camera
footage on the fatal shooting last month of PO2 Clint Cañete on the bridge.
Arellano, who inspected the cameras along with Ian Vic Alcuino, also observed that the two cameras on both sides and on both ends of the bridge were not strategically placed. All four cameras face away from the bridge’s center, which makes the whole span a blind spot.
The inspectors will submit their observations to officials in Neda, for presentation during the next meeting of the Metro Cebu Bridge Management Board.
When these cameras were installed for the January 2007 Asean Summit, then PNP regional director Silverio Alarcio told key officials to coordinate on, if not supervise, the installation of these security cameras along the ceremonial route, so these devices could be put to optimal use. (OCP)
