Trinidad crime-watch 

gets digitally hi-tech

TAGBILARAN CITY, September 8 (PIA)-- In Trinidad, if you think you can be naughty and get away with it, think again, because eyes high up above are watching. 

Anti crime operations get a better boost from a cutting edge technology, and coupled with a trusted force of manpower patrols and the tested curfew systems, odds are piled up that nobody gets away with a crime, Trinidad Mayor Judith Cajes revealed. 

Once conceived to provide faster emergency response especially on road accidents, the Trinidad Digital Fiber Optic Network has now outlived its original purpose in emergency response. 

It has also opened up an additional monitor emergency responders and for crime-busters as their virtual eyes eyes. 

The first few minutes is critical on responding to motor vehicle accidents, and relying on word of mouth to get the news to responders, wastes valuable response time that could mean life or death, a member of the Trinidad Rescue and Emergency Team said while detailing their pre-DFON rescue protocols. 

Set complete with high definition closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and an some 9 dedicated internet protocol private branch exchange (IP PABX) telephone system, the initial phase carried 49 high definition CCTV cameras installed in vantage points of the own. 

Key public areas like town market, municipal hall, and major road networks have wireless CCTV cameras transmitting crisp images to the command center manned 24/7, Mayor Cajes continued. 

When you have traffic accidents and there is a need to report the incident to the rescue teams, there might be problems with load and or intermittent mobile phone signals, so we figured out a PABX should be there, she said further explaining why these CCTVs have to have communication lines bundled. 

Seeing how critical help the CCTVs offered, the town expanded the system with an additional 53 high definition cameras and the new IP PBX phone lines plus a short messaging system text blast, which is critical in lockdowns and other emergency response action. 

Beyond this state of the art crime watch, the town also sets up its trusted and time tested Barangay Tanods in its 20 villages to do nightly roving operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction, she reported during the State of the Town Address (SOTA) delivered in time for the town's 70th founding anniversary.

A town situated in the delta of the Ipil river, bordered by big towns: Ubay to the east, Talibon to the northwest, and San Miguel to the south, securing Trinidad is a security operator's nightmare. 

Trinidad features vast plains and tall forested limestone hills with isolated areas utilized as farms which can easily seep criminal elements, of which putting up security options in areas too far out for HD cameras. 

For this, the town implemented its curfew ordinances and empowered its tanods to occasionally get to these areas. 

We know how tough a tanod's job is, and with that, we have recently increased their honoraria if only to motivate them some more, the lady mayor said. 

In its anniversary, Trinidadnons cheered their tanods perform a standard drill and arnis competition, possibly another only one feat in equipping their village watchmen with the tools that even their odds against criminals. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Barangay Peacekeeping Force in a show of skill in handling the arnis, another crowd drawer activity during the annual Caromata Festiva and Foundations Days. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)