EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)))
S E N A T E  
S. No.
'19 JUL 16 A 8-.54
p03
I
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
MANDATING THE USE OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS FOR SECURITY, 
SAFETY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN  GOVERNMENT OFFICES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution establishes that public office is a public trust. Therefore, it 
is the duty o f the State to ensure that the citizens of the country trust the offices and 
the officials working in the government. It is also the duty of the State to ensure that 
the offices and the officials are accountable to the Filipino peopie.
The recording of day-to-day transactions of government offices especially in the 
offices rendering frontline services will help deter government officials in conducting 
corrupt practices such as asking for "lagay" or bribe and ensure that officials are 
accountable to the citizens. This proposed measure mandates installation of Closed 
Circuit Television (CCTV), a visible or covert video system intended for only a limited 
number or viewers, in all government offices in the country.
Through the passage of this bill, the government will not only deter corruption 
but also restore the trust of the Filipino people in government offices and to the public 
officers who serve them.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this measure is sought.
& fL/y
PIA S. CAYETAf*)


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
r* rs o
S. No. 
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l U  r *
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a - r i n r p
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Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
MANDATING THE USE OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS FOR SECURITY, 
SAFETY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN  GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Be i t  enacted b y  the Senate a n d  the House o f  Representatives o f  the Republic o f  the 
Philippines in  Congress assem bled:
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S e ctio n  1. S hort Title. -  T h is  A c t shall be k n o w n  as th e  "S u rv e illa n c e  C am era
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fo r G o v e rn m e n t E s ta b lish m e n ts A c t."
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f  Policy. -  U n d e r A rtic le  X I, S ectio n  2, o f th e  1987
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P h ilip p in e  C o n s titu tio n , p u b lic  o ffic e  is a p u b lic  tru s t. P ublic o ffic e rs  a n d  e m p lo ye e s
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m ust at all tim es be accountabie to  the people, serve them  w ith 
utm ost
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responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act w ith patriotism  and justice, and
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lead m o d e s t lives.
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Sec. 3. D efinition o f  Terms. -  As used in th is  A ct:
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(a) Surveillance Camera refers to an electronic device used fo r recording
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images or moving visual images o f a particular area, premises, or place,
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such as b u t n o t lim ite d  to  close d  c irc u it te le v is io n s  (C C TV s);
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(b) Video /ieec/refers to the live input o f a surveillance camera;
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(c) Video Record o r Video Recording refers to the electronic record 
o f the
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images or moving visual images captured by a surveillance camera;
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(d) 
G overnm ent O ffice refers to any building or structure that is owned,
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o p e ra te d  o r used b y th e  R epublic o f th e  P h ilip p in e s as a p u b lic  o ffic e ;
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(e) 
Frontline Service refers to the process or transaction between clients and
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governm ent offices or agencies involving applications fo r any privilege,
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rig h t, 
p e rm it, 
re w a rd , 
license, co n ce ssio n , o r fo r a n y  m o d ific a tio n ,
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renewal or extension o f the enum erated applications and/or requests


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w hich are acted upon in the ordinary course o f business o f the agency or
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office concerned.
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Sec. 4. D uties o f  G overnm ent Offices. -  It shall be the duty o f all governm ent
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offices to:
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(a) 
Install and m aintain in good working condition surveillance cameras w ith
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audio w ithin the premises o f the governm ent offices;
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(b) 
Install and m aintain in good working condition surveillance cameras
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inside governm ent institutions especially in offices and areas offering
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frontline services, including but not lim ited to, im m igration counters,
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land transportation offices, customs, internal revenue offices, permits
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offices, land transportation offices, and the like, to  ensure quality and
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im partial service and to prevent any form  o f corruption;
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(c) 
Ensure th a t surveillance cameras are switched on and recording fo r
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tw enty-four (24) hours per day and fo r seven (7) days per week;
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(d) 
Ensure th a t video feeds are being m onitored by security employees or
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personnel specifically tasked to do so;
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(e) 
Keep a deposit o f video recordings fo r a period o f not less than six (6)
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m onths from  the date o f recording; and
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(f) 
In the instances covered by Section 8 o f this Act, to  make video
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recordings available upon request and to  allow copies thereof to be
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made.
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Sec. 5. Notice o f  Surveillance. -  The installation o f surveillance cameras in a
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governm ent office shall be made known to  the general public through a w ritten
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notice displayed in the entrance o f the establishm ent.
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Sec. 6. P rohibited Surveillance. -  The installation o f surveillance cameras in
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any restroom , shower room, changing room, and other such areas where there is
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reasonable expectation o f privacy shall be prohibited.
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Sec. 7. C onfidentiality a n d  Non-disclosure o f  Recordings. -  The governm ent
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offices shall m aintain the privacy and confidentiality o f the video feeds and records
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obtained in accordance w ith this Act. The concerned governm ent office shall prohibit
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any use, viewing, disclosure or publication o f said video recordings that are not
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w ithin the m andate o f this Act.


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Sec. 8. A llow ed Use a n d  Disclosure. -  The use, reproduction, or disclosure o f
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video records obtained in accordance w ith this Act shall only be allowed by
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com petent authority determ ined by the head o f the D epartm ent concerned in the
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follow ing instances:
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(a) 
Use, reproduction, or disclosure to a m em ber or officer o f a law
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enforcem ent agency in connection w ith and lim ited to the investigation
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or prosecution o f an offense punishable by law or regulation;
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(b) 
Use, reproduction, or disclosure in connection w ith any pending crim inal,
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civil or crim inal proceeding;
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(c) 
Use or disclosure th a t may be necessary to avoid an im m inent threat to
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persons or property; or
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(d) 
Use or disclosure th a t may be necessary fo r persons to determ ine
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w hether or not an offense was com m itted against th e ir person or
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property, to ascertain the identity o f a crim inal perpetrator, and to
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determ ine the m anner by which an offense was com m itted.
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Sec. 9. Im plem enting Agency. -  The departm ents o f the national governm ent
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and the local governm ent units shall ensure the effective im plem entation and
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enforcem ent o f this Act.
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Sec. 
10. 
Appropriations. 
-  The 
am ounts 
necessary fo r the 
effective
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im plem entation o f this Act shall be included in the budget allocation o f each
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departm ent and local governm ent unit in the General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 11. Separability Clause. -  I f  any provision or part o f this Act shall be
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the rem aining parts or provisions not affected
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shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
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rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent w ith the provisions o f this Act are
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 13. E ffectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5 ) days after
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least tw o (2) newspapers o f general
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circulation.
Approved,