By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
Laoag City—To ensure
the safety, security and well-being of every citizen, Laoag councilor Jason
Bader Perera authored a measure amending city ordinance No. 019 series of 2009
on the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) system for business
establishments in this city.
Mr. Perera presented his proposed ordinance for second reading
expanding the coverage in the application, requirements for a minimum
specifications, number and location to be installed and regulating the
examination, duplication and recording of CCTV footages.
He added that the purpose of the ordinance will not only to deter
crimes but to aid in the investigation of any “contestable act”, however several
establishments refuse to let their CCTV be examined to give a duplicate copy
which defeats the very purpose of the CCTV ordinance.
With the help of CCTV systems, numerous criminal activities and
accidental occurrences were captured and this could be of great help in the
investigation, however, due to poor quality of CCTV, it only gives little help
comparing to the maximum benefit needed.
The proposed ordinance will also include jewelry shops,
beerhouses, restaurants, and other similar establishments regardless of the
amount of the capital involved.
In an interview, Mr. Perera set himself as an example as a victim
of a shooting incident but the problem was the CCTV was not clear as this
ordinance sets specifications of CCTV to be installed.
“Naala diay CCTV diay nangtira kanyak ngem saan a natiliw ta
saan a clear, ket no dagitoy ket
they are still alive, baka addan to man
sumaruno a biktimaen dan daytoy ti maysa gagem detoy nga ordinansa tapnu
mapasardeng dagitoy a klase iti krimen babaen ti tulong dagiti CCTV”, Perera
said.
The existing ordinance, authored by former Laoag councilor Joseph
Tamayo, only applies to banks, money changers, pawnshops and business
establishments with a minimum capitalization of PHP500,000.
It also states that anyone who plans to build new
edifices/structures for business purposes with the provision for the
installation of CCTV.
Reacting to this, Laoag councilor Handy Lao, during the
deliberation, asked the price of the recording device because of the 15-day
recording period but the author said the 15-day recording requirement was based
on the existing ordinance.
Mr. Lao, who is a businessman, noted that “everybody is
experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic,” and the CCTV requirement might become an
additional burden again for small- and medium-businesses.
However, Mr. Perera said there will be a one-year compliance from
the date of effectivity of this ordinance “tapnu
saan met a marigatan dagitoy kalugaran tayo”.
Laoag councilor Jaybee Baquiran likewise asked the author on the
possibility of wire-tapping but Mr. Perera replied that the CCTV has no audio,
instead, the CCTV only capture movements of people and the wire-tapping law will
not be violated.
Mr. Perera, after the queries, decided to defer the bill for more
“research and study and ready for next session”.
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