EXPLANATORY NOTE
A way to lower the country's high crime rate is to provide deterrents which will  make
would be criminals think twice and reconsider. And one very effective form of deterrent is the
installation   of  Closed   Circuit  Television   (CCTV)  cameras.   CCTV  cameras  will   not  only
prevent crime,  it  can  also  help  in  solving  crimes.  Data from  the  PNP  also  showed  that for
2011,  physical  assault  and  theft  were  the  two  largest  contributors  to  the  total  number  of
incidents. These types  of crimes  can  be easily solved  with  the  help  of CCTV's.  When  you
read newspapers, there are many news reports with the following headlines or similar ones:
"CCTV catches  robber mauling woman";  ``CCTV catches theft inside CDO hospital";  "CCTV
catches theft inside training center in  Manila".  Even one of the actors of the Phantom of the
Opera was victimized by theft, which was also captured on CCTV.
Unfortunately,  many  establishments  refuse  to  put  up  CCTV's  because  of  added
expenses.  It is therefore high time that CCTV cameras become mandatory requirements for
different establishments all over the country.
In view of the foregoing,  immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
THIRD REGULAR SESSION               )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus 8. Rodriguez
House Bill No.  5369
AN ACT
REQUIRING BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS ALL OVER THE PHILIPPINES TO INSTALL
CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) CAMERAS IN THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS AS
A MEANS TO DETER CRIME, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it erl?ct.ed by the Senate and  House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title -This Act shall be known as the "Ccrv Act".
SEC 2.   Declaration of Policy - lt is the policy of the state to serve and protect the people, to
maintain peace and order, to protect the life of life,  liberty,  and property of its citizens and to
promote the general welfare.
SEC   3.      Installation   of  Closed   Circuit   Television      Cameras   (CCTV)  -  All      business
establishments   employing   more   than   twenty   (20)   employees/workers   and   with   work
premises of not less than fifty (50) meters in   the   Philippines are hereby mandated to install
and  maintain  in good working  condition  high quality surveillance and/or CCTV   cameras   in
all   their   entrance   and   exits, within the  premises of their work area,  the  perimeter of their
work areas/establishments   and other areas of their business to protect their patrons and to
deter crime. The CCTV cameras to be installed should be able to clearly show the faces of
the persons recorded.
These    establishments    are    also    hereby    mandated    to    ensure    that    these
surveillance/CCTV cameras are turned on and  recording for twenty-four (24) hours per day
and  for  seven  (7)  days  per  week.  They  are  also  mandated  to  keep  a  deposit  of  video
recordings for a period of not less than sixty (60) days from the date of recording
The  installation  of  CCTV  cameras  is  also  hereby  declared  to  be  a  mandatory
requirement before business permits or permits to operate are issued.
Business establishments include,  but are not limited to,  restaurants,  hospitals,  malls,
shopping  centers,  movie  houses,  supermarkets,  groceries,  entertainment  centers,  office
buildings, warehouses and other similar establishments.
All government offices and buildings are also mandated to install CCTV cameras.
SEC 4.   Notice of Surveillance - The fact   that surveillance   cameras   have been   installed
in    an   establishment   shall    be    made    known   to   the   general    public through  a  written
notice displayed in the entrance of the establishment.
SEC 5.   Prohibited  Surveillance - The  installation of surveillance cameras in any restroom,
toilet, shower, bathroom, changing room, and other similar areas shall be prohibited.
SEC 6.   Confidentiality and  Non-disclosure of Recordings - The owner and/ or manager of
the   commercial   establishment shall   maintain   the   privacy   and  confidentiality of the video
feeds   and  records obtained  as   a  result of the surveillance  performed  in  accordance with


this Act.   Towards  such  end,  said  owner and/ or manager shall  prohibit any use,  viewing,
disclosure, or publication of said video recordings.
SEC  7.    Allowed  Use  and  Disclosure  - The  use,  copying,  or disclosure  of video  records
obtained  pursuant to  the  surveillance  performed  in  accordance  with  this  Act  shall  only  be
allowed in the following instances:
(a)    Use,  copying,  or disclosure  to  a  member or officer of a  law  enforcement  agency    in
connection    with     and     limited    to    the     investigation    or    prosecution    of    an  offense
punishable by law or regulation;
(b)   Use,   copying,   or  disclosure  to  further  and   in   connection  with   any  pending criminal
or civil proceeding;
(c)    Use  or disclosure  that  may  be  necessary to  avoid  an  imminent  threat  to  persons  or
property; Or
(d)  Use  or  disclosure  that  may  be  necessary  for  persons  to  determinewhether  or  not
an   offense   was   committed   against   their   person   or   property,   to ascertain   the   identity
of   a    criminal    perpetrator,    and    to    determine    the  manner    by  which  an  offense  was
consummated.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner and/ or manager, or their agents, to ensure
that  the  conditions  for  use,   copying,   or  disclosure  of  video   recordings  are  reasonably
established  before giving  access to  requesting  parties.   The extent of video  recordings   to
be   viewed,   used,   copied,   or  disclosed   shall   be   limited   to  the images pertaining to the
above-mentioned instances.
SEC  8.    Penalties -  For private establishments,  any  person  or establishment who violates
any provision  of this Act will  be  punished  by a fine of One  Hundred  Thousand  Pesos (Php
50,000.00) and a suspension of its permit to operate or business permit until CCTV cameras
are installed.
For   government   offices,    non-installation    of   CCTV's    shall    be    considered    as
nonfeasance and shall be subject to the proper penalties provided for in appropriate laws.
SEC  9.     Implementing  Rules  and  Regulations  -  The  Department  of  Interior  and  Local
Government, together with the Philippine National Police, shall prescribe the necessary rules
and regulations to implement this act.
SEC 10. Repea/t.ng C/ause. All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
in conflict with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC  11.  Separab/.//.fy C/ause.  -lf for any reason,  any provision  of this Act or the application
thereof to any person or circumstances,  is  held  invalid,  the remaining  provision  not affected
thereby shall be in full force and effect.
SEC 12. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,