BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance seeking to amend several sections of Ordinance No. 11, series of 2017 which requires business establishments operating in the city to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, video recorders, and monitors for security purposes, to include the installation of updated version of such devices.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Joel Alangsab states that among the establishments required to install CCTV cameras are boarding houses with a minimum of 5 rooms or 3 units and above; car wash, emission testing centers and auto repair shops; pawnshops, money changing, lending companies, building for rent or lease, business engaged in accepting or delivering baggage, lotto outlets, and the like with or without security personnel whose employees are even less than 5; and all banks, restaurants, schools, hospitals, shopping malls or centers, movie houses, theaters, supermarkets, groceries, entertainment centers, office buildings, public utility terminals, department or convenient stores, gasoline stations, all bars and other business establishments with a minimum business capital of P500,000 which are operating within the city.
Under the proposed ordinance, CCTV cameras must be installed at a secured location with maximum area of coverage; the video recorded must be mounted in a secured and concealed location to protect the video footages from theft or deliberate destruction; whenever possible, a backup file stored in the DVD disc shall be recorded for archiving purposes; and whenever possible a dummy CCTV camera shall be installed in a conspicuous area to deter possible criminal acts and to protect the camera and the video footages.
The proposed amendatory ordinance stipulates no business permit or permit to operate shall be issued to or renewed for the business covered by the measure unless the CCTV cameras specified are installed and fully operational.
Violations of the pertinent provisions of the proposed measure shall compel the business establishment owner to pay the fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of one year, or both upon the discretion of the court.
The ordinance tasked the City Buildings and Architecture Office, in coordination with the Permits and Licensing Division of the City Mayor’s Office, the Baguio City Police Office and the Public Order and Safety Division to ensure the implementation or enforcement of the measure.
The City Mayor’s Office and the implementing offices shall, within 30 days from the effectivity of the ordinance, promulgate the necessary rules and regulation to implement the pertinent provisions of the same.
Earlier, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2024-119 that directed cities and capital towns to require the installation of CCTV cameras for certain business establishments in accordance with Section 16 or the general welfare clause of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines to support the maintenance of peace and order and public safety providing for the minimum technical specifications of CCTV cameras to be installed in covered business establishments.
By Dexter A. See