P2.8B proposed for crime labs, CCTVs

SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano will push for an additional P2.85 billion in the 2014 budget to establish crime laboratories and install close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in “critical” areas.

Cayetano pointed out that foreign investors would always look at the peace and order situation of a nation before they pour in money.

“Ang personal safety malaking bagay sa kanila(Safety matters mean  a lot to them.),” he said.

Cayetano spoke during the 23rd annual convention of the Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines. He asked over 100 convention participants to join him in dreaming for the Philippines to be as peaceful as Singapore.

typhoon-proof center

He said Yolanda-affected areas must not only rebuild damaged infrastructure but  come up with a common vision like the establishment of a typhoon-proof government center.

The availability of infrastructure, the presence of stable government policies and absence of graft and corrupt practices are very important factors in enticing foreign investments, he said, as well as peace and order.

This may be achieved by promoting professionalism in the PNP, improving crime laboratories in the different regions and installing CCTVs in critical areas.

The Singaporean government, he said, does not deploy their policemen on city streets and instead uses CCTVs to monitor activities.  He said the presence of CCTVs is a good deterrent to criminality./Chief Of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac