BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the city’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to fast track the final terms of reference (TOR) for the city government’s P12 million closed circuit television (CCTV) camera project in order to contribute in enhancing the peace and order campaign and monitor the activities happening around the city’s central business district area.
Domogan expressed disappointment over the unexplained delay in the releasing of the final TOR for the local government’s CCTV camera project, saying that the members of the technical working group (TWG) already visited a number of areas in the country with good CCTV installations, thus, the city’s desire for a good CCTV installation and connection should now be satisfied.
“TWG members were already able to visit successful CCTV-installed areas like Makati City, Pasay City and even Lepanto Mines in Mankayan, Benguet but we are wondering why the TOR has not yet been finalized for us to bid out the project,” Domogan stressed.
The local chief executive underscored he will not allow the bid out of the project of the BAC to stick to the original TOR that will only allow the city to be able to purchase a maximum of 30 CCTV cameras which will defeat the purpose of the project.
According to him, the CCTV cameras should have been installed in time for the numerous activities lined up for the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) sports meet, the annual alumni homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the highlights of the Panagbenga, which are the grand street dancing and grand float parades and the Session Road in Bloom as well as the PMA graduation rites, but it seems the project will not be realized the soonest because of the absence of the final TOR.
“We understand the government procurement process but it seems it is now the one delaying the implementation of programs and projects that are beneficial to the greater majority of the people,” Domogan said.
Domogan said the CCTV project of the city is considered to be very important in crafting appropriate peace and order and security monitoring plans and projects in order to ensure the safety of local residents and visitors who usually roam around the city.
He cited the city government cannot afford further delays in the realization of the CCTV project because it is the overall peace and order situation and the security measures that should be in place are the ones being jeopardized, thus, the finalization of the TOR so that the project will be able to move on and the necessary cameras shall have been installed in strategic areas.
Domogan said the visits done by the TWG to areas that have good CCTV installations are already sufficient in guiding them to craft the appropriate TOR for the city’s project so that the same will be realized and implemented this year for the city’s overall peace and order interventions key towards a peaceful and orderly community.
The 12 million budget for the city’s CCTV project was earmarked in the city’s 2014 annual budget but the initial TOR for the same was not acceptable among concerned stakeholders that warranted a review and assessment of the same which should formulate the final TOR that will serve as the basis for the BAC to bid out the project to qualified suppliers.
