The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on local government units (LGUs) to pass ordinances that will compel business establishments to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems before the issuance of business permits.
Specifically, the DILG noted that the CCTV requirement policy should be imposed on establishments catering to a large number of customers and those which are at risk and hazard-prone.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año, the concurrent chairperson of the National Peace and Order Council, said that as people return to their pre-pandemic ways, public safety must be a priority of the LGUs and “CCTVs are applicable technologies that should be utilized to keep criminal activities and their perpetrators at bay.”
“Ngayon ang tamang panahon para i-require ang mga negosyo na mag-install ng CCTV (This is the right time to require businesses to install CCTV). People are going out of their homes and in various establishments nowadays due to lower COVID-19 cases and a CCTV system is a powerful tool that can aid LGUs in ensuring public safety, deterring crimes, and identifying and apprehending culprits,” Año said.
Through DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2022-060, Año said that among the establishments that should have CCTVs are financial establishments such as banks, pawnshops, money lenders, and money remittance services and the likes; business establishments with several branches and chains; shopping malls, shopping centers, supermarkets, wet markets and medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics and laboratories.
“Places of entertainment such as theaters, movie houses, perya (carnival), internet cafes, arcades and other areas that draw a considerable number of customers; airports, public transportation terminals, parking lots and other similar establishments that cater to a large number of vehicles; car dealerships, gasoline stations, vehicle maintenance/service stations; and other similar business establishments deemed necessary by the LGU should likewise have CCTV cameras,’’ Año noted.
Año acknowledged that business establishments through their installed CCTVs play key roles in maintaining law and order, adding that ‘we must work in synergy towards a more peaceful community.’’
He also explained that the CCTV footage have always complemented the investigation of law enforcement units and have led to the resolution of many criminal cases, noting that they “aided in the investigation of high-profile cases producing vital leads for police investigators.’’
“We have already made significant strides in lowering the country’s crime rate in the last five years. It is imperative that we sustain this progress and enforce innovative policies that can further improve peace and order in our communities,” he added.
Upgraded CCTV specifications and location
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said CCTV cameras must meet the upgraded guidelines set by the national government.
“We encounter instances wherein audio or video quality make it hard to discern offenders, which is why we are urging the LGUs to set up upgraded CCTVs for the peace of mind of our fellow Filipinos,” Malaya said.
As recommended by the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the required CCTV cameras should have the minimum specifications of a high-definition analog or at least a 2-megapixel digital camera; 0.1 Lux Minimum Illumination; 2.88mm to 3.6mm focal length; Auto Iris focus lens; 1/30s to 1/50,000s shutter speed; pan and tilt adjustment of 0 to 180 degrees and rotation adjustment of 0 to 360 degrees; and Vandall proof for outdoor cameras with IP 66 Weatherproof casing, among others.
For audio and video input, CCTV cameras must be hybrid type “that accepts both Analog and Digital signal” with a minimum of four camera inputs; video and audio stream input; H.264 Video Compression and G.711u audio compression; and, a hard disk drive storage system that can record 40 days for DVR with four cameras at 1080p.
Meanwhile, 720p or 1080p resolution video/audio output; 3 FPS; and, at least 10 megabytes per second Video Bitrate and at least 64 kilobits Audio Bitrate are required for video and audio output.
Other specifications include a centralized power supply for the video recorder and cameras; and, an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to provide standard and reasonable back-up power for the Video Recorder and Cameras.
“In terms of installation, cameras must be installed at a secure location with maximum area of coverage of entrance and exits and areas of transaction or risk making certain that there are no blind spots. Recommended recording distances should be 10 feet (3 meters) and above for general surveillance; five to seven feet (1.5 to 2 m) for facial recognition; and three to four feet (1 to 1.2 m) for plate recognition in parking lots and must be mounted at secure or concealed locations to avoid deliberate tampering,’’ the DILG noted. (Chito A. Chavez)