CCTV now mandatory in establishments

BAGUIO CITY – Closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) are now mandatory in establishments in the city.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan signed city council Ordinance No. 11 series of 2017 “mandatorily requiring business establishments to install CCTV cameras, video recorders and monitors for security purposes.”

Also known as the “No (CCTV), No Business Permit Ordinance of the City of Baguio,” the measure authored by five councilors led by Councilor Edgar Avila and Vice-Mayor Edison Bilog, includes CCTVs as a requirement for new and existing business owners in securing their business permits.

“The advantages of the (CCTV) in crime prevention and solution is of judicial knowledge. The country is beginning to embrace the positive effects of technology as part of the process of modernization. Aside from communication and transportation, the government is gearing towards a modernized criminal justice system,” the measure noted.

“In the City, (CCTVs) are helpful in resolving crimes of theft and robbery. According to the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council there is a notable decrease in the said crimes from the period January to December 2010, the Baguio City Police Office has recorded 2, 826 cases of theft and robbery incidents while from January to December 2011, it has recorded 2, 495 cases. The decrease can be attributed among others, to the installation of closed circuit televisions initiated by some business owners to protect their businesses.”

As provided in the measure, all business establishments including all restaurants, schools, hospitals, malls, shopping centers, movie houses, theaters, supermarkets, groceries, entertainment centers, office buildings, public utility terminals, banks, shopping malls, department/convenience stores, gasoline stations, pawnshops, money changers, all bars, warehouses or general merchandise, and other similar establishments are mandated to install and maintain in good working condition CCTV cameras, video recorders and monitors and operate the same on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis.

The requirement will also apply to boarding houses with a maximum of five rooms or three units and above, carwash, emission test and auto repair shops.

Pawnshops, money changing, lending companies, building for rent/lease, business engaged in accepting or delivering baggage, lotto outlet, and the like with or without security personnel whose employees are even less than five are obliged to install at least two CCTVs.

All banks, restaurants, schools, hospitals, shopping malls/centers, movie houses, theaters, supermarkets, groceries, entertainment centers, office buildings, public utility terminals, department/convenience stores, gasoline stations, pawnshops, money changers, all bars, and other business establishments with a minimum business capital of P500,000 are also required to install CCTV with corresponding image recorders in their facilities.

Institutions which already have CCTV shall register the installation with the City Treasury Office and the Baguio City Police Office and subject to upgrading of the old installation.

Video recordings from the system shall be preserved for 15 days from the date of recording.

Small store owners whose annual capital income is less than P60,000 and business establishments with less than three employees; boarding houses with a maximum of four rooms or two units; small auto vulcanizing shop and carwash are exempted from the requirement.

Establishments will be required to also post a written notice in bold letters measuring a minimum of three inches directed to the public that the establishment is employing surveillance systems.

“In no case however shall a CCTV camera be installed in any restroom, toilet, shower, bathroom, changing room, and other similar areas;

“All establishments are required to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of all video feeds and recordings obtained via the surveillance performed. The use, viewing, copying, disclosure or publication of said video feeds and recordings shall be strictly prohibited except under the following instances: By order of a Court of competent jurisdiction; and in connection with and limited to a criminal investigation or prosecution of an offense, punishable by law or regulation provided that the request is made by the City Director of the Philippine National Police or the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Violators of this Ordinance shall pay a fine of P5,000 and/or imprisonment of one year or both upon the discretion of the Court. /Aileen P. Refuerzo#

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