MANILA,Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday launched its P20-billion “Safe Philippines” project, a surveillance system made by a Chinese firm, in five pilot cities in Metro Manila.

The project will be anchored on an information and communication technology (ICT) system that aims to reduce the crime rate by 15 percent and increase the response rate of emergency responders and law enforcers by 25 percent.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the project aims to establish a more collaborative and efficient management of public order, safety and security using the system, which uses facial and license plate recognition technology.

The Senate previously called for an investigation into the project after the DILG signed a contract with state-owned China International Telecommunication Construction Corp. last year.

Some sectors have raised concerns that the project might be a risk to national security as the Chinese firm would install an initial 12,000 surveillance cameras in the metropolis.

The DILG kicked off the project by signing a memorandum of agreement with the city governments of Marikina, Parañaque, Pasig, San Juan and Valenzuela.

Another aspect of the project is the construction of an integrated Intelligent Command, Control and Communication Center for the National 911 Public Safety Answering Point for national agencies and city-level centers.

Año said the project would help prevent the commission of crimes by providing security measures that anticipate “threats and hazardous challenges.”

DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the Safe Philippines project would only be successful if the public contributes to maintaining peace and order in their communities.

“Without the individual discipline among Filipinos to be law-abiding and peace-loving, our common mission of having a safer Philippines would be hard to realize. Bayanihan po ito,” he said in a statement.