APALIT, Pampanga—Mayor Oscar “Jun” D. Tetangco said on Monday that the safety of the public and the protection of businesses were the priorities of his administration since he assumed office in 2007.
Tetangco said he and the town council, led by Vice Mayor Peter Nucom, worked for the installation of state-of-the-art closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in areas where most businesses are and in places frequented by the people.
“Almost all our areas are covered by CCTV cameras and soon all of Apalit will be closely watched by the same technology,” Tetangco said. “We value and treasure out people and visitors, and the businesses that pump up the local economy.”
Tetangco said the project launched last year also helps monitor and improve the flow of traffic.
The CCTV cameras are installed along MacArthur Highway and in barangays Capalangan, Sulipan Sampaloc and Paligue. It’s in the four villages where most of the businesses are based.
The project is dubbed JDT, or Joint Defense and Traffic. The name of the project is inspired by the initials of the mayor.
Records at the municipal hall showed there are some 1,200 registered businesses in this first-class town. Tetangco said there are at least 1,500 businesses here, including those which have yet to register with the business licensing office.
Councilor Fortunato “Atoy” Castro said Apalit is dubbed “gateway to Macabebe and Masantol towns in Pampanga and Calumpit in Bulacan.” He added residents of the three towns are “regularly doing business and buying their daily needs in our town.” Most public transportation routes passing through this town’s public market before reaching the coastal Pampanga towns and Calumpit.
Pampanga Electric Cooperative III Director Jun Sigua of Apalit said, “the project of the mayor and the council is laudable because it prevents crimes and increase the drive of the people to do business.”
“More business is good not just for the town but for Pelco III, as well,” he added.
Tetangco said a recent stabbing incident was immediately solved after the CCTV cameras recorded the incident.
“The suspect denied the charges against him. He later admitted to the crime after being shown the footage showing him stabbing the victim,” he added.
The CCTV monitors are at the police station beside the town hall. These are monitored on a 24-hour basis.