MMDA installs 100 more CCTV cameras to enhance monitoring coverage

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino

MANILA, Philippines—The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Monday started installing 100 additional high-definition closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras on various strategic locations along Metro Manila’s main thoroughfares in a bid to enhance its monitoring coverage.

“The installation of these CCTV cameras will provide wider monitoring coverage, and further advance the agency’s quick dispatch, rapid response, and better coordination particularly during critical situations,” MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said.

He said the cameras are a mix of fixed, pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) with the latest video analytics software that can trigger an alarm on certain events, thus allowing the agency to respond at real time.

Of the 100 additional cameras, 18 were installed along Commonwealth Avenue, 56 along EDSA from Monumento to Taft Avenue, 14 along Aurora Boulevard (from Recto to Santolan), eight along España Boulevard, and four along Quezon Avenue.

The new wireless communication system will be manned by the MMDA Communications and Command Center which houses the Operations and Control Monitoring Group (Metrobase) and in charge of coordinative work among concerned agencies and offices in relation to accurate information dissemination and or retrieval.

It will run all through the day and is equipped with efficient network storage devices that can store and recall images and videos.

The cameras are said to have speed detection, vehicle classification, counting function, and face recognition.

Some are also equipped with the feature of license plate recognition, which has the ability to capture license plates of vehicles violating the parameters set forth by the agency.
For his part, Director General Alan Purisima, the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief,  said the project can be of help to PNP in its conduct of law enforcement operations.

Purisima, who attended the launching, said he is planning to partner with MMDA in addressing criminal activities such as kidnapping and bank robberies.
“For example, there are bank robbery situations, we can immediately know the traffic situation and see from the cameras where would the perpetrators head,” Purisima said.