UP faces law of unintended consequences

EXPECT howls of protest from several sectors over the University of the Philippines’ plan to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in strategic areas and barrier gates inside its Diliman campus in Quezon City as part of the state university’s enhanced security measures.

“From state U to police state!” could very well be the cry of militant groups as they deplore what they call the coming of Big Brother on the campus.

Strategic points

“Peeping Toms!” trysting lovers and couples might remonstrate as they imagine their private moments at Sunken Garden and UP Lagoon caught on camera.

“Elitist! Burgis-capitalist!” Ordinary pedestrians, motorists and joggers might protest, comparing the now less accessible campus to gated communities in posh subdivisions.

In a phone interview, UP security officer Prof. Edgardo Dagdag said they have identified vulnerable areas where 10 CCTV cameras will be installed, and the five entry points where barrier gates will be put up. “The UP barangay is also planning to put up CCTV cameras in strategic points in the residential area of UP,” Dagdag said.

News of this boost to UP’S existing security system came several days after the strafing of the campus residence of UP professor and INQUIRER columnist Randy David.

But Dagdag said the technology upgrades to UP Diliman’s security arrangement were planned and the budget set aside even before the strafing.

Security summit

In March, the university held a security summit for its campuses to come up with enhanced security plans for their areas of responsibility. A statement released by the Office of the Chancellor on March 4 and posted on the UP website also detailed the steps the university had been taking to balance campus-wide security with the need to make UP Diliman accessible to its “mandated stakeholders... given that thousands of alumni, guests, visitors, third-party employees, passersby and informal settlers also set foot daily on campus land.”

The statement said the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City has a contiguous land area of 493 hectares that cover seven barangays and several government agencies. On peak days, Dagdag said, at least 100,000 people frequent the campus, while some 80,000 informal settlers live on its fringes.

He assured the public, however, that they were exerting efforts to keep the UP campus peaceful.

“Criminality-wise, the UP campus as compared to outside is a haven. We will make sure that it remains that way,” the security officer said. The campus has 303 security guards and 51 watchmen keeping peace and order, he added.

Off limits to PNP

The Philippine National Police is not allowed inside, however, because of a standing memorandum of agreement with UP dating back to the 1970s.

The statement on the UP website said that UP Diliman has “new security service contracts for the next 12 months, starting January 2012, that are valued at P67.26 million... with 236 guards as baseline.”

The campus, the statement said, “is an integral part of Quezon City and Metro Manila... The socioeconomic and political consequences of increasing urbanization, widespread poverty and rapid population growth are also seriously felt here.”

Dagdag, the designated spokesperson for the David strafing incident, said the investigation now lies with the Quezon City Police District. David, he said, has made it known that he does not want police security at his home on campus.

But the strafing is “not an isolated incident,” Dagdag said. “It must be taken seriously. We are glad that no one was hurt,” he said, adding that he took “the initiative of increasing the visibility of security personnel in the vicinity of (David’s) house.”

A security guard posted a few meters away from David’s home said there were three of them on roving patrol duty in Areas 1, 2 and 3.