Parañaque City makes CCTV cameras a must

THE CITY government of Parañaque has followed the lead of other local government units (LGUs) in requiring the installation and use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all business establishments, including schools and private subdivisions, in the effort to deter criminals and help solve crimes.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez recently approved City Ordinance No. 14-03 (044), which imposes a “No CCTV, no business permit” policy that was earlier adopted by other LGUs like Quezon City and Muntinlupa. It covers business establishments as well as schools and private subdivisions in the city. It was passed by the city council on Feb. 6.

“This is part of our plan to fight criminality in Parañaque, ensure peace and order in our schools and communities, and help our law enforcement agencies in solving crimes,” Olivarez said in a statement issued yesterday.

“In the long term, this should help protect our business establishments and our constituents from criminal elements,” he added.

The measure, authored by Councilor Jason Webb, calls for the use of CCTVs in banks, shopping malls, gasoline stations, supermarkets, money changers, 24-hour convenience stores, schools and universities, fast-food restaurants, car dealerships, pawnshops, money courier and wire transfer shops, games and amusement centers licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., bars, health spas and massage parlors, and hotels.

It also requires private subdivisions to put up CCTV facilities at entrance and exit gates, as well as all other establishments that handle financial transactions or businesses with a daily customer traffic of more than 200 people.

Establishments should file their CCTV footage for at least a year and make these available to authorities when required to help in the resolution of crimes.

The local police and city hall personnel will check their compliance with the ordinance, Olivarez said.

The ordinance also ordered the city’s Business Permits and License Office to include the installation of working CCTVs as one of the prerequisites for the issuance of business permits and licenses.

It imposes fines on violators and the revocation of business permits for repeated violations.

Establishments will be given a year to comply with the ordinance. Afterward, first-time violators will be given a warning and 15 days to comply with the law. Those caught a second time will be fined P1,500 while third-time offenders will be slapped with a 3,000 fine.

Those caught violating the ordinance for the fourth time will have their business licenses revoked.