City inquires on CCTV ordinance conformity

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Council is asking the Office of the Business Permit and Licensing Office and Talisay City Philippine National Police to strictly monitor the compliance of financial, lending institutions and business establishments to the ordinance mandating the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in their respective premises.

The 4th SP Ordinance No. 2012-02, an ordinance for the installation of CCTV or video monitoring devices within the premises of business establishments within the City of Talisay ", was approved in the 2012 to  help deter the commission of crime and, if committed, to assist law enforcement agencies in their investigation.

City Councilor Danilo Caballero, chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, said the call for the strict implementation of the ordinance came after a robbery incident that happened in the city recently, costing the life of the establishment's security guard.

Caballero said that all business establishments should be required to install CCTVs before they could be given permits to operate.

Caballero pointed out that the ordinance covers not only financial and lending institutions but also other entities with more than P1 million capitalization.

He also said the installation of CCTVs and other video monitoring devices can be an effective tool to deter the occurrence of crimes and a big help to solve crimes committed.

"This CCTV ordinance of the City of Talisay be ideally be imposed to all businesses within its jurisdictional territory that deal extensively with public. To withstand the increasing crime rates at present, it is necessary to fully enforce the partially implemented 4th SP Ordinance Number 2012-02," Caballero noted.

Under Section 9, the ordinance also mandates that the Business Permit and Licensing Office shall conduct an ocular inspection of business establishments in complying with this measure.

The failure to comply with the law would mean penalties, as follows: warning for the first offense, a P2,500 fine for the second offense and P5,000 for the third.— Garry B. Lao (FREEMAN)