Some establishments are urged to prepare for Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) System installations as this will soon be a business operation requirement starting next year, under the Amended CCTV ordinance passed on the third and final reading by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in November.
Davao City Councilor Luna Maria Dominique Acosta, during the I-Speak Media Forum on Thursday, December 14, 2023, said that the new CCTV ordinance enumerates the types of establishments that are required to install CCTV for public safety.
“We expanded the scope of the ordinance and we updated the technical specifications. We have three covered areas; the first is the public areas, which will be covered by the City Government of Davao and other agencies.. second is private establishments with a capital of more than Php3 million required talaga sila (they are required) and they have their technical specifications. Since malaki naman ang capital nila expectation natin is (their capital is big we expect that).. they can afford to spend for better specifications na CCTV system and they can afford to hire people to monitor these CCTV systems. We also have a third categorization, these are private establishments with less than Php3 million capital but falling under enumerations. For these establishments regardless of whether or not they have reached the Php3 million capital, if you fall here kailangan mo mag-install ng CCTV pero hindi naman same specifications na kasing mahal ng tag Php3 million pataas (you need to install CCTV but not the same specifications and cost with those with more than Php3 million capitalization),” Acosta said.
She said that the establishments included in the third category are financial establishments, banks, pawnshops, business establishments that are part of a national chain or those with several branches, food chains, drug stores, appliance stores, computer stores, shopping malls, educational institutions, dormitories, motels, factories, condominiums, apartments, hospitals, laboratories, clinics, theaters, and movie houses, airports, car dealerships, guns and ammunition shops, firing ranges, and other areas.
“So saan sila dapat mag lagay ng CCTV, under the ordinance when the room has an expectation of privacy like breastfeeding rooms, rooms inside the hotels, motels mga condominiums hindi na kailangan mag install, kailangan lang nila mag install sa entrance and exit points, as well as the main area of business,
for example mga lobby ng hotel, kung gusto nila sa corridor pwede din basta we do not violate the privacy of the individuals and we require all the establishments that have CCTVs to install CCTV signage may notice talaga (So where should they install the CCTV: under the ordinance, when the room expects privacy like breastfeeding rooms, rooms inside the hotels, motels, and condominiums, they do not need to install there, what is needed is that they have installed it on the entrance and exit points, as well as the main area of business such as the lobby of the hotel, if they want they can place it in the corridor but we do not violate the privacy of individuals, and we require all establishments that have CCTVs to install CCTV signage, notice is required),” Acosta said.
She also said that establishments with Php3 million and above capitalization, are required to have at least four CCTVs or one camera for each entry and exit point.
“If they have more than four entrances and exits, kahit four yung minimum they have to put in every entrance and exit, that includes entrances and exits where only employees can pass hindi yung public lang na all entrances and exit (not only those entrance and exits that are for public). Those with below Php3 million are required to have at least two CCTV cameras, one for the entrance and exit and one for their main area of business. Again if they have other entrance and exit points, all entrance and exit points should have their own CCTV camera,” Acosta said.
Based on the Ordinance, those who fail to operate and maintain a working CCTV camera shall be fined PHP 5,000, suspension of business permit, and/or revocation of business permit if the business owner still refuses to follow the requirement. CIO
