DILG urges LGUs to impose a "no CCTV, no business permit" policy

The Department of the Interior and Local Government wants LGUs to pass ordinances to install CCTVs before issuing permits to business owners.

"No CCTV, no business permit" policy soon? (Photo from DILG's Facebook)

Upgraded CCTVs for the peace of mind of Filipinos?

The government agency said that the CCTV requirement policy should be imposed on but catering to a massive number of customers and those at risk and hazard-prone. DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año explained that LGUs must prioritize public safety since people are already going back to their pre-pandemic ways. He added,

Ngayon ang tamang panahon para i-require ang mga negosyo na mag-install ng CCTV. People are going out of their homes and in various establishments nowadays due to lower COVID-19 cases and a CCTV system is a powerful tool that can aid LGUs in ensuring public safety, deterring crimes, and identifying and apprehending culprits.

Based on Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2022-060, the secretary noted that among the establishments that should be required to install CCTVs are financial establishments such as banks, pawnshops, money lenders, and money remittance services and the likes; business establishments with several branches and chains; shopping malls, shopping centers, supermarkets, wet markets and medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.

Año also added to the list those establishments offering entertainment such as theaters, movie houses, perya (carnival), internet cafes, arcades, and other areas that draw a considerable number of customers; airports, public transportation terminals, parking lots, and other similar establishments that cater to a large number of vehicles; car dealerships, gasoline stations, and vehicle maintenance/service stations.

Año recognized that through their installed CCTVs, business establishments play critical roles in maintaining law and order. He emphasized that they must work together towards a more peaceful community. 

Allegedly, CCTV footage has always been helpful in the investigation of law enforcement units and it has led to the resolution of many criminal cases. It also aided in investigating high-profile cases producing vital leads for police investigators.

Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya stated that CCTV cameras must meet the upgraded guidelines set by the national government. He explained that there are instances wherein audio or video quality makes it hard to distinguish offenders.

The Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) recommends that the required CCTV cameras should have the minimum specifications of a high-definition analog or at least a 2-megapixel digital camera; 0.1 Lux Minimum Illumination; 2.88mm to 3.6mm focal length; Auto Iris focus lens; 1/30s to 1/50,000s shutter speed; pan and tilt adjustment of 0 to 180 degrees and rotation adjustment of 0 to 360 degrees; and Vandall proof for outdoor cameras with IP 66 Weatherproof casing, among others.

For audio and video input, CCTV cameras must be a hybrid type that accepts both Analog and Digital signals with a minimum of four camera inputs; video and audio stream input; H.264 Video Compression and G.711u audio compression; and a hard disk drive storage system that can record 40 days for DVR with four cameras at 1080p.

Meanwhile,  the device must have 720p or 1080p resolution video/audio output; 3 FPS; and, at least 10 megabytes per second Video Bitrate and at least 64 kilobits Audio Bitrate are required for video and audio output.

Other specifications include a centralized power supply for the video recorder and cameras; and an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to provide standard and reasonable backup power for the Video Recorder and Cameras.

DILG also remarked that cameras must be installed at a secure location with a maximum area of coverage of entrance and exits and areas of the transaction. They also should be mounted at hidden locations to avoid intentional tampering.

What do you think?

Source: DILG