Skip to main content

Laoag dad proposes CCTV coverage expansion

 


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”.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

 Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said.    Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy.   18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi