The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has taken a significant stride towards realizing its vision of a safe and technologically advanced metropolis with the inauguration of its state-of-the-art Communications and Command Center (CCC). Serving as the central hub for managing Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares, this modern facility stands as the largest, most sophisticated, and cost-effective command center among all government agencies in the country.
Aligned with the prevailing drive for digitalization across various government entities, the MMDA has embraced this transformational wave. The newly established CCC now provides a permanent home for the agency’s operational center, data center, situation room, viewing room, media room, and power room. It also incorporates cutting-edge technologies, including high-definition closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, an intelligent traffic signalization system, and a Hytera radio smart dispatch system equipped with built-in GPS.
During the inaugural ceremony, Atty. Don Artes, Acting Chairman of the MMDA, expressed, “This milestone marks a major leap forward for the MMDA in its mission to establish Metro Manila as a secure and intelligent metropolis. By leveraging smart technologies and data analytics, we aim to support the country’s economic development and enhance security.”
The CCC demonstrates its “smart” and high-tech capabilities through various features, such as a massive video wall system, which enables flood control monitoring via the Flood Control Information Center (FCIC) Effective Flood Control Operation System (EFCOS). Additionally, it allows for the display of video feeds from body-worn cameras utilized by MMDA traffic enforcers.
Moreover, the MMDA CCC serves as a monitoring center for 403 advanced CCTV cameras strategically positioned across critical infrastructure projects in the metropolis. These cameras cover areas such as pumping stations, bus bays, waterways, and even the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach. The center also oversees adaptive and sensor-based traffic lights interconnected through the agency’s fiber optic network. Notably, the MMDA is currently in the process of installing 638 additional CCTV cameras along major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region (NCR), alongside 166 CCTVs equipped with data analytics along the EDSA Bus Carousel.
Among the notable technological advancements showcased by the CCC is the Hytera Radio Smart Dispatch System. This dispatch software incorporates a GPS and smart map to enable real-time tracking of traffic enforcers. It facilitates communication with other radio users, allowing the CCC to convey vital messages and instructions, particularly during emergencies.
The CCC’s data management is entrusted to its dedicated Data Center, capable of accommodating 25 server racks in the future. Currently, the CCC utilizes 899,239 meters of fiber optics across Metro Manila, with an additional 105,360 meters being laid down—an extensive fiber optic cable network, the longest owned by a government agency. However, these achievements are merely the beginning.
Acting Chairman Artes disclosed that the CCC has ambitious plans on the horizon, encompassing a wide array of endeavors. Notable initiatives include integrating CCTV systems of local government units within the NCR through the installation of a 45-kilometer fiber optic cable. Additionally, the MMDA aims to acquire an artificial intelligence program featuring vehicle classification, car counting, license plate recognition, and facial recognition capabilities. This AI program will be utilized for traffic enforcement and management, with the license plate recognition feature assisting in these endeavors. Furthermore, the addition of facial recognition and behavioral analytics will aid the Department of Interior and Local Government in crime prevention and resolution. The agency also intends to procure a mobile command center equipped with satellite internet and remote CCTV capabilities to monitor significant events, such as the President’s annual State of the Nation Address and other emergencies.
“With these state-of-the-art technologies and facilities consolidated within our command center, I am confident that our new MMDA CCC will be more inclusive and reliable. These advancements are rooted in our sworn duty to deliver effective and efficient public services, paving the way for a prosperous and progressive Metro Manila,” concluded Chairman Artes.
