DavNor pushes natl law on CCTV installation

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Nov 24 (PIA)—The provincial government of Davao del Norte pushes for a  mandatory requirement for  business establishments to  install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

During the meeting yesterday , the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) passed a resolution asking Congress, through  the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to a pass a national law on establishment of CCTVs.

The resolution was an offshoot of the discussion  to institutionalize the Oplan Lambat Sibat in  the province that came after the presentation of Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office (DNPPO) director, PS Supt. Samuel Gadingan.

In his presentation, Gadingan explained that Lambat meaning net tackles crime prevention strategies through “fusion of anti-criminality campaign activities such as checkpoints, boat patrol and mobile patrol” while the Sibat meaning spear is “intelligence-driven operation requiring dedicate tracker teams to arrest most wanted persons and criminal groups”.

The Oplan Lambat Sibat is expected to result in “deliberate, systematic and sustainable” crime solution that is rights and ethical-based.

“The analysis of crime situation would no longer be anecdotal,” he said in an interview with PIA 11 citing instances of somewhat guesswork analysis of police officers. “We will no longer want that to happen so we will have a scientific study on the patterns of crime so the analysis would also be scientific,” he added.

Citing the importance of information gathering  in solving crime,  Gadingan emphasized the need to install CCTVs in business establishments with capitalization of P300,000.00 and above. 

“That  must be mandatory,” he said.

Noting that a national policy on  CCTV installation is yet to be passed, he revealed having taken the initiative to request the local chief  executives in the province to initiate such move and to require local businesses to install CCTVs.

However, Gadingan revealed that some businesspeople perceived such requirement negatively saying it can add cost to doing business.

“We have already requested the local chief executives but the problem is that nagiging adamant, ang iba while others are not really giving due attention kasi alam nila na magiging negative  ang epekto with additional expenses  in their business,” he said.  (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)