MANILA, Philippines – In an attempt to curb crime and capture criminals, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will issue a memorandum to local government units (LGUs) requiring national chains to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

On Friday, August 15, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II met with business leaders to hear their concerns before issuing the memo – which will include the commitment to install CCTVs in stores as a requirement before national chains are issued business permits.

The memorandum, to be issued within 6 weeks, focuses on national chains because they can afford it, rather than requiring all businesses to have it.

Roxas said an initial market scan done by the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that a basic CCTV system costs about P20,000 ($458*) to P25,000 ($572.5).

He also specified there will be no “preferred manufacturer, supplier, or brand.”

“It’s up to you where to buy it. All we’re asking for is if we’re going to install it, we want it to be used by police in investigation and crime prevention,” Roxas said.

Roxas said DILG’s requirements for the CCTVs will be minimal, and it will be up to individual businesses to increase their capabilities if they wish. Among the requirements are a digital memory space for 72 hours and a camera facing the outside of the establishment that will capture the road.

This, Roxas hopes, can help monitor activity of the chain’s neighboring businesses.

While some cities already have ordinances, what is new about the upcoming memorandum is the additional requirement of having an outside camera.

“Whatever the minimum that will capture the event, the imagery… that’s fine with us. It will be quite basic. Beyond that, each company can then make their own assessment of how much technology they want to use,” he said.

The secretary said he also foresees LGUs using the CCTV requirement as a way to promote their provinces and cities as safe and secure destinations.

Business owners spanning from banks, to gas stations, to convenience stores to hospitals, overwhelmingly supported the move to install CCTVs.

According to an evaluation by the PNP of reports from January to June 2014, 87% of crimes in Metro Manila were solved when committed in places with a CCTV, compared to only 62.5% in places without them.

The study also saw a success rate of 58.18% when it came to crime prevention in places with a CCTV, versus 41.8% in places without them. – Rappler.com

$1 = $43.67

CCTV camera image via Shutterstock