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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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'13 
JUL 18 P 3 :1 0 
SENATE 
S.B. No. -.923 
Introduced By Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution declares that it is the policy of the State to maintain peace 
and order and to protect the life and property of the general public. It is noted that the 
occurrence of theft, harassment, vandalism, and other such crimes is becoming 
increasingly common-place in many private commercial establishments. 
This is 
particularly alarming taking into consideration the need to ensure the safety of private 
establishments such as banks, financial establishments, schools, gas stations, and the 
like. 
The rising crime incidence shows that there is an inadequacy in the security 
systems currently being implemented by private establishments. The installation of 
surveillance cameras or closed circuit televisions ("ccrvs") would address any lack in 
security personnel. 
ccrvs would also supplement existing security systems of 
establishments since it would empower security and victims to review a record of 
events that transpired. ccrvs would help victims identify perpetrators and would 
provide evidence of the crime. ccrvs would also allow owners of commercial 
establishments to monitor a greater area with fewer personnel requirement. The real-
time video feed would also better prepare security personnel to monitor particularly 
suspicious individuals and to prevent the commencement of any planned criminal 
activity. 
The proposed legislation aims to protect and empower the general public against 
criminal elements that would threaten the State's peace and order. The passage of this 
measure would uphold the State's worthy ideals to protect life and p=r;.o"""_ .... 
o.t2 
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID 
Senator 
( 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No.923 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced By Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapillf 
AN ACT 
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'13 
JUL 18 P 3 :1 0 
MANDATING THE USE OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS FOR THE SECURITY 
AND SAFETY OF COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS 
Be it enacted btj the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Surveillance Camera 
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Act for Commercial Establishments". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article II Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution 
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states that it is the policy of the State to maintain peace and order, to protect life, liberty 
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and properly, and to promote the general welfare of the public. 
As such, the 
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surveillance and securily of commercial establishments should be regulated to prevent 
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criminal incidents in said establishments. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
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(a) 
"Suroeillance camera" refers to electronic devices used for recording images 
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of a particular area, premises, or place, such as but not limited to closed circuit 
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televisions (CCTV's). 
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(b) 
(c) 
"Video feed" refers to the live input of a surveillance camera. 
"Video record" or "video recording" refers to the electronic record of the 
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images captured by a surveillance camera. 
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(d) 
"Commercial establishment" refers to any establishment used for 
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commercial purposes and operating for, selling products to, or providing services to the 
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general public. The term refers to establishments such as but not limited to retail stores, 
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banks, financial institutions, supermarkets, schools, kindergartens, hotels, and 
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restaurants. 
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(e) 
"Cauered establishment" refers to any commercial establishment with work 
premises of not less than fifty (50) square meters. 
SEC 4. Duties of Covered Establishments. - It shall be the duty of all covered 
establishments to: 
(a) 
Install and maintain in good working condition surveillance camer~s 
within the premises of their work area (i.e., cashier's areas, aisles or areas that are 
obstructed from public view, entrance of restrooms, and the like); 
(b) 
Install and maintain in good working condition surveillance cameras to 
monitor the perimeter of their establishment; 
(c) 
Ensure that surveillance cameras are turned on and recording for twenty-
four (24) hours per day and for seven (7) days per week; 
(d) 
Ensure that video feeds are being monitored by security employees or 
personnel specifically tasked to do so; 
(e) 
Keep a deposit of video recordings for a period of not less than thirty (30) 
days from the date of recording; 
(f) 
In the instances covered by Section 8 of this Act, to make video recordings 
available upon request and to allow copies thereof to be made, at the expense of the 
requesting party. 
SEC. 5. 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 6. Prohibited Surveillance. -
The installation of surveillance cameras in 
any restroom, toilet, shower, bathroom, changing room, and other such areas where 
there is a reasonable expectation of privacy shall be prohibited. 
SEC 7. Confidentiality and Non-disclosure of Recordings. - The owner and/or 
manager of the commercial establishment shall maintain the privacy and confidentia1jty 
of the video feeds and records obtained as a result of establishment 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. 
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SEC 8. Allowed Use and Disclosure. - The use, copying, or disclosure of video 
records obtained pursuant to establishment 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 imminent threat to 
persons or property; or 
(d) 
Use or disclosure that may be necessary for persons to determine whether 
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 andj or manager, or their agents, to 
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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 9. Penal Clause - Any act or omission causing the violation of duties 
ascribed to commercial establishment under this Act shall be punishable with 
imprisomnent not exceeding six (6) months, or a fine not exceeding One thousand pesos 
(Pl,OOO.OO), or both; without prejudice to other civil or criminalliabillties that may arise 
therefrom. 
The owner andj or manager of the establishment shall likewise be answerable for 
violations of this Act; provided that it is shown that the violation was due to hisjher 
direct participation, lack of supervision, or negligence. 
SEC 10. Implementing Agency. -
The Department of Interior and Local 
Govermnent and the respective local govermnent units with jurisdiction over the area 
wherein a covered establishment is located shall ensure the implementation and 
enforcement of this Act. 
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SEC. 11. Separability Clause. -
If any provision or part of this Act shall be 
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall 
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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 with the provisions of this Act are 
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 13. EffedivihJ Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
Approved, 
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