CCTV a must for Quezon City shops

“Big Brother” is fast becoming a part of Filipino life.

In an anticrime initiative, the Quezon City government will strictly implement the “No CCTV, no business permit” policy starting January next year, City Hall said on Sunday.

Mayor Herbert Bautista said he had instructed the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) to send out reminders starting this month to business owners on the need to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems in their establishments before applying for or renewing their permits.

“Business establishments will benefit from using CCTVs especially in the prevention and resolution of crimes,” the mayor said.

In a statement, Bautista said all establishments operating within the city are required to have CCTVs, particularly pawnshops, gasoline stations, banks, malls, supermarkets and schools.

He said that starting next year, business owners can only secure permits from the BPLO if they already have security cameras installed in their establishments.

The mayor also announced the planned installation of a CCTV system next year at City Hall itself. This is apart from the procurement of P100 million worth of security cameras to be installed on major and secondary streets in the city’s 142 barangays (villages), he said.

The cost of installing a CCTV system ranges from P15,000 to as much as P30,000, depending on the coverage of the surveillance area. The price of the system also depends on the resolution of the security camera and other settings.

Last month, Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said he would propose that business establishments be required to install CCTVs in the next meeting of the National Peace and Order Council.

Bartolome then said “this is just a small investment on the part of business operators that will eventually translate to higher returns as losses due to crime are diminished.”

In Congress, Sen. Manuel Lapid has filed a bill requiring commercial establishments with work areas measuring at least 50 square meters to install and maintain CCTVs in strategic areas.