CCTV law nears PB nod

CEBU, Philippines - After three sessions of thorough deliberation, the Provincial Board yesterday approved on second reading the proposed ordinance on the installation of Closed Circuit Television  cameras in critical sections of hospitals and other health institutions of the Province of Cebu.

Board Member Sun Shimura, who authored the proposed measure, said all inputs and suggestions during the public hearing and discussion before the plenary were incorporated in the amended version of his proposal.

These include the identification of critical areas in a hospital, or those where the public frequents such as the ingress and egress, lobbies, wards, pathological nurseries or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, emergency rooms, and others, as determined by hospital policies.

Shimura’s measure provides that digital images recorded by the CCTVs should be presented only when required by a court and other law enforcement agencies in connection to an investigation of a criminal offense.

Prohibitions include those against unauthorized or unofficial use or viewing of any saved video recording, feeds of recording, copying of feeds, transmission, and uploading or furnishing of copies of the recording to an unauthorized person.

The proposed measure also provided as penalties an administrative fine of P10,000 and a warning for first offense; imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine of P5,000 or both, or a fine of P30,000 for the second offense.

Fine for third offense is imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine of P5,000 or both upon the discretion of the court, or a fine of P50,000 plus a recommendation by the Provincial Inspection Team to the Department of Heath for sanctions as deemed appropriate.

Shimura was prompted to author the measure because of at least five reported cases of babies whose mouth were sealed with adhesive tape at the nursery of Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House, Inc.

“Putting up a CCTV camera on the critical areas in the hospital is indeed helpful and vital in ensuring the safety and full protection of the public,” he said.

Board Members Jude Thaddeus Sybico and Peter John Calderon co-sponsored the proposed ordinance, which is set for third and final reading during the next PB session. (FREEMAN)