Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2565

HOUSE BILL NO. _~"_

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hi

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Offhand, a Closed Circuit Television Camera (CCTV) is a tool that would video record a
crime in case it would be committed without a viable or willing witness at the scene and at
the time that it took place.

Thus, to make it more relevant, the CCTV shall also be manned by someone whose
responsibility it is to report to the nearest police station that a crime is being committed
before the perpetrators could go scot-free.

Now, since the PNP plays forefront advocate of CCTV as a tool to run after lawless or
criminal elements that attack banks, malls, shops and other business establishments, it is
therefore better assigned the task.

PNP should make itself available around the clock to receive calls and in fact, to have a
quick reaction team at any time in the day in case a form of siege is actually being
committed. This way, this whole proposal to require every business establishment to install
a CCTV in its place of operation can be relevant.

Under this Act, the local police station or ‘police at the block’ must make available all sorts of
links with every business establishment within its territorial jurisdiction in order to properly
implement the provisions of this proposed bill. Absent these, even if every business
establishment has CCTV installed, it cannot be fully utilized if and when a link in the chain is
broken, as it were.

On its own, the central PNP headquarters can coordinate with any of the giant
telecommunication companies to avail of a facility or service that would facilitate every call
for police intervention from any business establishment in need of the same. Meantime,
every local government unit (LGU) may issue a pertinent ordinance requiring every business
establishment to install a CCTV in its place of business operation.

In case such business establishment opts to waive this requirement, then an official waiver
should be on its business records with ne effect that it likewise has waived its rights for



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. #555

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
REQUIRING EVERY MAJOR BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT LOCATED IN CENTRAL OR
CORE BUSINESS DISTRICT AREA, ON COMPULSORY BASIS, TO INSTALL IN ITS
PLACE OF BUSINESS OPERATION, A CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION CAMERA AND
EVERY MINOR BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT, ON OPTIONAL BASIS AND
PRESCRIBING EFFECTIVE GUIDELINES THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Closed Circuit Television Camera
Requirement Act.”

SEC. 2. Under this Act, every major business establishment especially that located in
central and core business district or area is hereby required to install, on compulsory basis, a
Closed Circuit Television Camera

However, every minor business establishment may waive this requirement by filing
appropriate waiver to this effect without prejudice to other minor business establishments
that opt to install their own CCTV or similar video surveillance equipment.

SEC. 3. To effectively implement the provisions of this Act, the central police
headquarters may formulate rules, regulations, policies, and accreditation scheme that
would technologically link its local police stations with every business establishment within its
territorial jurisdiction.

Such system of accreditation enrols such business establishment for the privilege to
avail of immediate intervention or action from the police without prejudice to those non-
accredited business establishments asking for protection.

SEC. 4. The Business Permits and Licensing Office in every municipality, town or
city shall require CCTV as part of the requirements for registering a business or renewing its
business license only in so far as major business establishments are concerned and minor
business establishments may apply for waiver.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,