LAMUT, Ifugao – The Local Government Unit (LGU) here has required business establishments in the municipality to install Close Circuit Television (CCTV) camera or video surveillance system (VSS).
This is pursuant to a municipal ordinance approved in November last year requiring the installation of CCTV camera in strategic location of business establishments, educational institutions and public places considered as high risk to lawless elements.
This covers establishments like banks, pawnshops, groceries, hardwares, gasolines station, department stores, lending institutions, multi-purpose cooperatives, hotels/motels, entertainment centers and car dealerships which transact and deal with monetary transactions with actual capital of P300, 000.00 and above.
The equipment shall be inspected by a task force before the issuance of a certificate of compliance that would be a prerequisite to the issuance of a business permit. The Task Force may however conduct regular or spot inspections to determine the compliance of this ordinance;
The establishment shall preserve the continuous digital images recorded by the system for no less than 30 days for review and reference purposes and after 30 days, the feeds or recording shall be preserved and stored for safekeeping for a period of not less than one year and maybe be disposed at the lapse of such period at the option of the owner.
The feeds or digital images recorded by such system may be presented upon request by the court of competent jurisdiction and other law enforcement agencies including the municipal mayor.
By Marcelo Lihgawon
