Metro mayors urged to require establishments to install spy cams

LUNETA LOOKOUTS Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. and National Parks Development Committee Executive Director Juliet Villegas inspect the command center for the CCTV cameras installed around Rizal Park. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II met with Metro Manila mayors on Wednesday to urge them to require owners of business establishments to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) units in a bid to reduce criminality in the region.

Except for Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito-Estrada,‎ Roxas and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino discussed with the 15 mayors the new memorandum circular from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the installation of spy cameras.

‎In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Roxas said that primarily, banks and fastfood chains will be required by the DILG to acquire CCTV units.

But he said it is already up to the local officials to determine which businesses should put CCTV units in their establishments.

Also, metro mayors will be given “scorecards” to keep track of crime statistics in their areas of jurisdiction.

“The data from the scorecard will help Metro Manila local chief executives to determine how they fare in solving crimes,” said Roxas.

‎Based on the records Roxas presented, robbery and theft cases in Metro Manila have reduced since June 16 ‎from 666 cases to 635 in September.

Crimes in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela under ‎the Northern Police District and Manila Police District increased in 12 weeks since June, while crime statistics reduced in other areas.

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