The US government is ready to grant the city with more than US$500,000 for the peace and public safety sector.
During the recent City Council’s regular session, Councilor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. introduced to the floor the proposed item for the Grant Agreement to be entered into by the city government here and the government of US America through to the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
The grant, amounting to US$515,000 or around P26 billion per latest exchange rate of P52.13 per US dollar, is set for the modernization of the City’s Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC).
The grant will also cover the development of an intelligent transportation management system, said Quitain who chairs the council committee on rules privileges, laws, and ordinances
During the suspended rules of the session last Tuesday, the local legislators approved the resolution that will authorize the city mayor to enter into the agreement with the US government.
“This grant has been proposed during the time of former PSSCC head Benito de Leon,” said PSSCC head Angel Sumagaysay. He added that he is yet to disclose details on the allocation of the said grant.
De Leon, a former military general who vacated the PSSCC post early this month, said he already recommended few points to Sumagaysay to further strengthen the center.
During the recent turnover of the position to Sumagaysay, de Leon said they would upgrade the system of the PSSCC, which is currently under the Office of the City Mayor.
A legislative item, under the committee on peace and public safety chaired by Councilor Maria Belen Acosta, is also underway in the City Council for the institutionalization of the center.
PSSCC, according to its website, “serves as the command, control and coordinating office during everyday activities, crisis situations and combined security operations. It also facilitates the exchange of important and confidential information and intelligence by orchestrating the different coordinating agencies.”
