Iloilo vies as ‘CCTV City’ by 2013

ALL high risk business establishments in Iloilo City are required to install a close circuit television (CCTV) camera system as a requisite for applying a business permit or renewal of license by 2013.

These establishments include banks, moneychangers, pawnshops, credit facilities, and other financial institutions as well as hotels, shopping malls, and supermarkets that are easy and frequent targets of lawless elements.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog issued Executive Order 029 last August 2, 2012 creating the CCTV Camera Council and defining its roles and functions as an oversight body tasked to approve, control, and supervise all CCTV camera use and installation within the city.

The council is chaired by City Councilor Nielex Tupas for City Council committees on Tourism and Trade and Industry, co-chaired by Iloilo City Police Office Chief Superintendent Marietto Valerio with members: City Engineer Karl Quimsing, businessmen Oscar Chua and Francis Sio, Joeboy Agriam of the chamber of commerce and industry and National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) OIC Engineer Nestor Monroy.

Tupas said the council will firstly enforce the installation of CCTV camera on high risk businesses which are given until the end of the year for compliance, as mandated by the provision of Regulation Ordinance 2011-307.

In addition, businesses with existing CCTV camera system should report to the council to get a certificate of compliance like the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Cebuana Lhuillier, RD Pawnshop, Eight Under Par Palawan Pawnshop, Metrobank, FSG Pawnshop and Marcelino Florete Jr.,as well as F&C Pawnshop and Jewelry Store.

A composite task force will be created soon to inspect the business establishments for CCTV compliance and has the power to recommend to the City Mayor for the approval or renewal of a business permit as well as suspension or revocation of the permit for noncompliance.

Tupas said that by 2013, the CCTV camera system will be in place in high risk businesses and all other businesses in the city will soon follow.

The business processing and licensing office of the City Government was able to issue business permits and licenses to more than 10,000 businesses, mostly small and medium enterprises last January 2011 as deadline for licensing.

High risk businesses comprise some 25 percent of the total business establishments here but are volatile and mostly targets of criminals.