More than just surveillance tools, dash cams are vital instruments for ensuring road safety and deterring crimes.
By promoting accountability, they also provide invaluable evidence during incidents, helping law enforcement protect the public while maintaining transparency and trust.
Recognizing the importance of dash cams, the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) rolled out the Project: Electronic Digital Accountability for Safe Highways Camera (eDASH Cam) at the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) on November 15.
This initiative aims to enhance road safety and policing in the province by equipping patrol vehicles with advanced dash cameras to strengthen transparency and operational efficiency.
PRO1 Director PBGen Lou Evangelista said the project is part of an extended closed circuit television (CCTV) initiative aiming to install surveillance cameras in key areas to enhance community security.
“As PRO1 officers are already equipped with body-worn cameras to ensure transparency, legality, and accountability in police operations, the new dash cams will extend these safety measures to road monitoring, benefiting motorists and public order,” Evangelista said.
Aligned with the S.E.C.U.R.E.D. agenda focused on digital transformation for efficient policing, the eDASH cam initiative enhances patrol officers’ ability to capture real-time evidence and document public interactions.
Beyond serving as powerful investigative tools, the dash cams act as a crime deterrent, improving operational efficiency and reinforcing PRO1’s commitment to integrity in law enforcement.
These devices provide critical support in cases of vehicular incidents, offering reliable evidence to expedite investigations and maintain the accountability of officers in the field.
Evangelista encouraged end-users to responsibly care for this advanced equipment, underscoring its role in making a safer, more secure Region 1.
Pangasinan PPO Director PCol Rollyfer Capoquian expressed his gratitude for the initiative of implementing dash cams in Pangasinan.
He affirmed that the Pangasinan PPO will support all the plans and programs of PRO1.
“Dash cams, in general, are great tools in many aspects. They help maintain the integrity of police officers and, in cases of vehicular traffic incidents, can serve as evidence and aid in speeding up investigations,” Capoquian said.
Two patrol vehicles from the PPO and four main stations in Urdaneta, San Carlos, Dagupan, and Alaminos have been equipped with eDASH cams, with installations for remaining vehicles in Pangasinan expected to be completed within the month.
Regional Information and Communications Technology Management Division (RICTMD) Chief PCol Joemar Labiano stated that each of the 125 police stations across Region 1 is equipped with one to two police vehicles.
This distribution suggests that approximately 250 eDASH cams will be installed in the region’s police stations.
Labiano emphasized that the deployment of these eDASH cams is crucial for effectively monitoring major events that will occur on the roads, providing better oversight and safety measures for both officers and the public.
“In line with digital transformation, this initiative serves as preparation for the upcoming Yuletide season, aiming to enhance transparency at checkpoints and chokepoints during the 2025 midterm and local elections. This measure will foster accountability, transparency, and protection for both police officers and civilians,” he said.
Through eDASH cams, PRO1 reinforces the role of technology as a vital tool for ensuring road safety, deterring crimes, and promoting accountability—ultimately advancing its mission to create safer highways and communities in the province and in Region 1. (AMB/EMSA/JSZ/PIA Pangasinan)
