CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Mayor Roseller Rizal on Wednesday said the enhanced peace and order situation in this city has been pivotal in the local government unit's recent achievements and recognition from national government agencies.
Rizal made the pronouncement in his State of the City Address (SOCA) that coincided with the 282nd anniversary of Calamba’s elevation from Barrio Tabuco into a municipality before becoming a city.
Calamba recently ranked 8th out of 114 component cities nationwide and 1st in Laguna province in the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) 2023 awarding conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the provincial government of Laguna.
Rizal also announced the operational status of a state-of-the-art security command center equipped with 100 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras strategically positioned across the city.
The center also features an advanced eagle-eye camera with vehicle plate recognition capabilities, providing live feed data that can be monitored 24/7 by the Public Order Safety Office (POSO), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).
The mayor also reported increased support for local safety agencies, including the provision of seven new mobile patrol units to the PNP, three vehicles and four motorcycle units to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and one vehicle to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
“These agencies are collaborating effectively to maintain peace and order in our city,” Rizal said.
Last year, Calamba City received notable awards, including the Model City and Safe Haven Award from the Manila Times and the Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence 2023, which recognized the city's compliance with the risk reduction, management, and climate change adaptation efforts by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). (PNA)