Upon orders of Mayor John Dalipe, the local government through the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) has begun carrying out inspections of business establishments for the presence of installed and operational closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems pursuant to full implementation of Ordinance 499.
Ordinance 499 mandates the installation of CCTV systems in businesses establishments operating in Zamboanga City.
“Right now, ya tiene ya instruction el mayor to already strictly implement este ordinance. Tan start ya kita este year, man inform gat kita…come renewal period next year, we can strictly implement and penalize violators,” BPLO chief Benjie Barredo said during the regular press briefing at City Hall Tuesday, June 6.
“This is in order to intensify the city’s drive to deter, prevent, detect, and solve criminalities, and to preserve recordings as evidence,” Barredo added.
The CCTV system must comply with specifications prescribed in the ordinance, which require 4 channels with cameras with at least 2 MP resolution and a timestamp feature, and a full coverage of entrances, exits, and center of business activities.
At least one camera must be facing the street, and when applicable, parking lots and drive-thru lanes.
Surveillance is prohibited in restrooms, toilet, shower, bathrooms, changing rooms, and other similar areas. Establishments must also post notice of surveillance.
The following business establishments with initial capitalization or annual gross sales of not less than Php 3 million are required to install CCTV systems: amusement places, businesses part of national chains, drug and convenience stores, contractor services, dealers, distributors, financial institutions, gasoline and service stations, hotels, lodging inns, pension houses and motels, manufacturing companies, private hospitals, medical facilities, private schools, private piers and wharves, radio stations, resorts, shopping malls, shipping agencies, retailers of firearms, ammunitions, sporting goods, and used cars, slaughterhouses, and wholesalers and warehouses.
Penalties for non-compliance to the ordinance will include no business permit or permit to operate will be issued or renewed, and a Php 5,000 fine.
Barredo cited that the ordinance only allows the use, viewing, copying, and disclosure of the video feeds and recordings to a member or officer of law enforcement in connection to investigation of an offense punishable by law or regulation; in connection with any pending criminal or civil proceeding, and; to determine whether an offense was made, to determine identity of a criminal perpetrator, and determine the manner by which the offense was perpetrated. (Jasmine Mohammadsali, photo courtesy by Kathy Wee Sit)
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook page)