Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has ordered the purchase of P100 million worth of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and their installation along major thoroughfares and secondary streets in the locality’s 142 barangays (villages) to ensure close monitoring of crimes and accidents in the areas.
Likewise a local alderman proposed making mandatory the installation of security cameras in all private and public hospitals as well as lying-in clinics to address increasing incidents of crime within the health facilities.
In a statement, Bautista said that the purchase and installation of the security cameras would help the local police force to intensify efforts in maintaining peace and order and protecting residents from lawlessness by ensuring that persons involved in crime could be identified for their subsequent arrest.
According to Bautista, “Let us use technology in our bid to resolve crimes and put on jail criminals at the soonest possible time. CCTV will help our authorities to solve crimes speedily.”
Bautista added that the business permit and licensing office (BPLO) would continue to require business establishments, especially banks, restaurants, schools, auto shops, malls, and even churches to install CCTV systems in their respective vicinities to deter crimes.
Meanwhile, citing the increase in the number of crimes committed within medical facilities, city councilor Marvin Rillo proposed the “Hospital Surveillance Ordinance of Quezon City,” which penalizes non-compliance in installing security cameras within private and public hospitals as well as lying-in clinics.
“With the unfortunate increase of various crimes occurring within the hospital premises, surveillance is a great way in order to prevent and minimize crimes, and in the case of consummated crimes, surveillance is one of the fastest and reliable means in order to identify the culprit,” he explained.
Under the proposed law, the medical facilities in the city are required to properly maintain a surveillance camera system 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Private hospitals and lying-in clinics are required to shoulder the expenses for the installation of the system in their premises. On the other hand, the installation of the CCTV system in public hospitals and medical facilities will be charged to the remaining 2012 budget of the city or the allotted 2013 budget or to available funds in the city treasury.
Any hospital facility or its authorized representative found violating the ordinance may face a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment of not more than five years. Continued or subsequent violation or non-compliance with the ordinance may constitute a ground for the suspension, revocation or cancellation of the hospital’s permit.