GMA News 08/20/2008 | 04:51 PM
MANILA, Philippines – Shops, banks, restaurants and other commercial establishments in San Juan should install surveillance cameras inside and outside of their buildings – or else pay a fine of P5,000.
The fine is mandated under Ordinance No. 46, which was authored by Councilors Dante Santiago and Rolando Bernanrdo and unanimously approved by the San Juan City Counci.
The ordinance covers Internet shops, pawnshops, money changers, convenience stores, cafes, gasoline stations, money transfer centers, bill payment centers, and supermarkets.
The councilors said establishments with monitoring cameras would make it easy for the police to prevent the commission of crimes and it could also aid them in their investigators.
“The city government of San Juan is resolute in maintaining the high confidence of the business sector in the city and will exhaust all means to prevent heinous crimes from happening within its jurisdiction,” Santiago said.
Under ordinance 46, first offenders will be fined P5,000 and the establishment owner or manager will be required to attend a security remedial seminar.
Second offenders will be fined P5,000 and will their permits and licences to operate suspended for a month,
Third offenders will have their permits and licenses for the current year revoked.
If any establishment refuses to pay the fine within 15 days from receiving a violation notice or citation ticket, its permit and license to operate will be suspended until it pays up.
Surveillance cameras must also be equipped to make video recordings daily, which they police may review if necessary. The video must be stored for at least 30 days before being deleted.
The mayor, a court, or the police may order that any video be preserved beyond 30 days.
The ordinance also makes it illegal for any person to identify to others any persons in the video, unless the person is a complainant, victim, or suspect in a crime.
Anyone who violates this will be fined P5,000 or jailed for six months imprisonment, or both, at the discretion of the court.
The ordinance will be implemented by the San Juan police force, Task Force Displian, and the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) in coordination with the Office of the City Mayor to.
The city must also give business establishments, especially small and medium enterprises, administrative, technical, and even financial support so that they can comply with the ordinance.
The 21 barangays of San Juan City are also tasked to assist support the city government to enforce ordinance 46 and monitor and ensure the strict compliance of the establishments concerned.
The barangay councils may also engage the services of nongovernment organizations and the private sector or tie-up with other barangays in the course of implementing the provisions of this ordinance. – GMANews.TV