Biñan City has unveiled its new modern command center, which will boost its crime-fighting capability and provide a more efficient emergency response.
The city government, under the leadership of Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Reyes Dimaguila Jr., poured in nearly P6 million to acquire and install state-of-the-art equipment and technologies for the new Biñan City Command Control and Communication Center, which is already fully operational.
Mayor Dimaguila said the command center will improve not only the city’s crime watch and prevention mechanisms, but also its response capabilities during disaster and other emergency situations.
He said it will also enhance the city’s vehicular traffic monitoring.
“The center will act as a central monitoring hub for the integration, management, and monitoring of emergency services and traffic system,” Dimaguila said.
“We are very keen in monitoring so that we can immediately dispatch personnel in the area in cases of emergency. This is also part of our plan to fight criminality and mitigate traffic in Biñan,” he added.
Erected in a 400-square-meter space in front of Biñan City Hall, the two-storey building of the command center is equipped with high-end networking and communication equipment, cutting-edge surveillance camera system, and an integrated video wall.
The facility, which is the first among the cities and municipalities in the south of Manila, also boasts of advanced automatic telephone switching and radio equipment.
Mayor Dimaguila said about 96 security cameras were recently installed all over Biñan, which will operate round-the-clock as part of the city’s new monitoring system.
He said these cameras will provide the city government with real-time data on traffic, crime, and emergency situations.
The mayor added that 12 emergency mobile substations manned by policemen and duty officers of the Public Order and Safety Office were also placed at strategic locations in barangays Canlalay, Dela Paz, San Francisco, San Antonio, Platero, Malaban, Casile, Soro-Soro, Mamplasan, Santo Tomas, Langkiwa, and Timbao, to boost monitoring of the city and coordinating responses to incidents.
Mayor Dimaguila said each substation has its own patrol vehicle, mini fire truck and motorcycle, as well as communication equipment and dispatch application system linked to the center.
The city government will also activate its own emergency hotline to enable its residents to immediately seek help for any emergencies.
Mayor Dimaguila said residents will only have to dial one number, and their calls will be directed to the city’s command control and communication center, where operators are on duty 24/7.
Mayor Dimaguila noted that the activation of the hotline will complete the full roll-out of the city’s emergency services capability upgrade.
The mayor said it is their aim to respond to an emergency within three minutes.
“We will continue to improve and integrate our command and control systems so that we can build a consolidated situation picture and help our ground and frontline officers when they are sent to the scene, to respond more quickly, precisely and effectively,” said Dimaguila.
“We are doing this because primarily we want our residents to live in a safe, secure, and comfortable environment,” he added.
The Biñan City Command Control and Communication Center is managed by POSO officials and will be composed of law and traffic enforcers as well as emergency and disaster unit personnel. Angela Lopez de Leon