News Briefs

TOWING WOES IN MANDAUE

THE Mandaue city government has started operating its own towing services but it has also allowed the controversial private towing firm, Jadewell Pay Parking Systems Inc. to continue its towing operations.

City Administrator James Abadia said during a press conference on Friday that the city government already issued a rescission order against Jadewell but it had yet to implement it.

Abadia said  the city couldn’t yet rescind Jadewell’s contract even if the city government had already bought its own tow trucks because of a lack of a holding area to impound the towed vehicles.

He said this was the reason the city allowed Jadewell to continue its operations.

Abadia said the holding area should be wide to accommodate several vehicles and should be secured to avoid being sued if the impounded vehicles would be lost.

Abadia, however, said that once a holding area would be found then the city could rescind Jadewell’s contract, which was effective until 2015. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

TALISAY CCTV MEASURE

AN ordinance requiring commercial and business establishments to set up closed-circuit TV cameras was passed on first reading by the Talisay City Council last Tuesday.

Vice Mayor Alan Bucao, sponsor of the ordinance, said the presence of CCTV cameras in establishments would be an effective deterrent because it could record evidence of criminal activity.

All private commercial or business establishments with a minimum capital of P1 million based on the record submitted to the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) are mandated to install a CCTV or video surveillance/monitoring system.

“The Business Permit and Licansing Officer (BPLO) shall be mandated to make a listing and notice of compliance of business establishments within 30 days after approval of this ordinance,” the proposed measure read.  /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus