Councilor mulls security camera policy in Oro

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

BUSINESSMEN may face fines and non-renewal of business permits if they fail to install security cameras in their respective establishments.

Councilor Ramon Tabor filed a resolution imposing the "No CCTV, No business permit" policy in compliance to City Ordinance 1105-2008 that requires all business establishments to set up closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

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“Putting CCTV is not a burden and we should not take this as an imposition but a share in helping our city free from criminalities,” Tabor said.

However, Tabor’s resolution drew some reactions from among his colleagues at the City Council, citing that this needs further modification, particularly in identifying the so-called “high risk” establishments.

Councilor Juan Sia said not all businessmen can afford a CCTV camera, especially those who are just starting and those small-time businessmen.

“I will not agree if this is required to all businessmen but if it will be imposed on selected businessmen only, I will support it,” Sia said.

Councilor Edgar Cabanlas expressed the same observation, citing that it is impossible for the City Council to impose the “No CCTV, No business permits” policy citing that “robbers and thieves nowadays are becoming smarter.”

But Cabanlas suggested that the City Government must first install CCTV cameras in public places, including public markets and exit and entry points of the city, before imposing this to businessmen.

“Let the mayor do that and not us in the City Council,” he said.

Councilor Alvin Calingin agreed to the observations of his colleagues but emphasized that CCTV cameras are needed for security measures.

Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya despite being the co-author of the resolution did not support Tabor’s motion considering that the mayor was not given any authority to decide on this matter.

Nacaya, who is chairman of the committee on police, fire and public safety, suggested for the council to amend Tabor’s resolution and to give the mayor the authority to impose this ordinance to identified "high risk" establishments such as banks, gasoline stations, lending firms, pawnshops and convenience stores, among others.