Cebu, Philippines (22 March) -- The two Mactan-Cebu bridges will soon become the first WiFi enabled and most high-tech bridges in the country today with the approval of the P4.5M worth of expansion and upgrading of the present'state-of-the-art' Traffic and Security Management System (TSMS) facility installed at the Mandaue and Marcelo Fernan bridges.

In a Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board meeting recently, the Board approved the expansion and upgrading of the present system which will include the addition of 4 fixed security cameras; 28 more PTZ cameras; 2 IP-PA system; 4 spotlights; 4 WiFi systems for the bridges and 8 flood lamps and fiber optic infrastructure.

Marlene Rodriguez, regional director of NEDA-7 reported that the current TSMS installed at the two bridges have limitations in terms of clarity in reading and detecting car plate numbers and there are several blind spots within and underneath the bridges.

Rodriguez said, it does not also have an alert system that could forewarn concerned agencies in cases of emergencies and there are not enough cameras and spotlights underneath the bridges.

"We proposed to expand and upgrade the security and alert system to include 32 more cameras; 8 more on top and 8 beneath the bridges," Rodriguez added.

It means no more blind spots underneath the bridges and promotes redundancy. "We will also install extra floodlights and spotlights as well as beam detectors for approaching vessels.

Public address system that includes microphones that can be used as intercoms will also be added to the existing system.

The new TSMS will be in fiber optic connections due to the increase in bandwidth requirements of the additional cameras. It will be resistant to dust, rust, humidity and lightning.

With the expansion and upgrading of the present TSMS, the bridge Board stands to save about P2.550M per year expenses for the payment of the services of 15 security guards posted at the two bridges.

In its stead, the Board will hire three (3) IT staff to man and supervise the TSMS facility and make the necessary reports to the Bridge Board.

The upgrade will enable it to cover the bridge 24/7 and enhance the security aspects of the two bridges with lower maintenance and management costs, Rodriguez said.

Engr. Pericles Dakay, MCBMB vice chair said that the expansion cost is recoverable; adds value to our mandate as bridge management and it is a matter of need for the bridges.

"Once completed, in 45 days, this will be the first WiFi enabled and most high-tech bridges in the country!" Cebu governor Gwen Garcia enthused. (PIA-7/MBCN)