Council seeks update on CCTV compliance

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has requested the Cebu City Treasurer's Office and the Peace and Order Council to submit to them a status report on the compliance rate and the number of functional closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in use among business establishments.

City Ordinance No. 2381 requires business establishments and residential subdivisions and condominiums operating in Cebu City to install CCTV.

The Council also requested the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to urge business establishments from the private sector to install CCTV cameras inside and outside their premises.

In a resolution sponsored by Councilor Renato Osmeña Jr., the council also requested the CCCI to require these business establishments to put signage indicating that the area is being monitored 24/7 by a CCTV surveillance system, in compliance with CO 2381.

“The mandatory installation of upgraded security cameras in strategic places is imperative to make our community more safe and more secure as it would deter the commission of crimes and eliminate possible threats to public peace,” said Osmeña.

Last May, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2022-060, urging all local government units to require all business establishments within their area of jurisdiction to install upgraded security cameras on their premises.

This, to ensure that the guidelines for the specifications, operation, and retention of CCTV Systems, and the data it collects are consistent with the progress in technology and are addressing the growing privacy concerns over the years.

The directive also aims to encourage City and Municipal Peace and Order Council chairpersons to prioritize the inclusion of Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) in relation to the guidelines prescribed by the said MC in their Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plans. — GMR (FREEMAN)