MARIKINA CITY, Philippines – Solar-powered closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed on major bridges in Marikina City, the local government said on Tuesday.
The cameras serve as early-warning devices that monitor the water level in the Marikina River, Mayor Del de Guzman said.
The CCTV cameras are in place in the Tumana, Sto. Niño, and Marcos bridges.
“We learned our lesson from [typhoon] Ondoy,” de Guzman explained. “Dati mano-mano ang monitor natin sa ilog... tao-tao, pero ngayon technology at makikita ng lahat mula dito sa City Hall para makagawa ng appropriate action.”
He said aside from being powered by sunlight, the cameras also have night-vision capability and a built-in alarm system that goes off when the river’s water level reaches 14 feet.
“Pag tumunog na ang alarma, ibig sabihin kailangan na namin umalis (When the alarm goes off, it means that we have to leave),” said Tumana barangay captain Lucila de Guzman.
Hundreds of houses in the village were washed away by floodwaters during the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy in September last year. - Jay Ruiz
