FEB.

11, 2014

NR # 3374

Solons seek mandatory installation of CCTV cameras with GPS tracking system in PUVs
To ensure the maximum safety and well being of commuters, Buhay party-list lawmakers are seeking the mandatory installation of closed circuit television (CCTV cameras in public utility vehicles (!"Vs with corresponding #!$ tracking systems% The proposal is embodied in &ouse Bill '()) which is authored by *ep% +ariano +ichael Velarde, ,r% and co-authored by *eps% -ito .tien/a, ,r% and 0rwin Tieng, and now pending at the &ouse Committee on !ublic 1rder and $afety chaired by *ep% ,effrey 2errer (3th 4istrict, 5egros 1ccidental % Velarde said recent events have proven that the CCTV has been effective in preventing and reducing the proliferation of crimes in public places% 6The presence of CCTV cameras undoubtedly helps in assuring the public their safety is ensured and their well-being taken care of% The CCTV footages have been very effective in documenting and proving the commission of crimes,7 said Velarde, a vice chairman of the Committee on 0nformation and Communications Technology% 0t is for this reason, he said, that the Buhay Hayaan Yumabong party is proposing the measure re8uiring operators of !"Vs such as buses, 9eepneys and taxicabs, including 2: public vehicles, to install CCTVs with the corresponding #!$ tracking systems in all their vehicles% &ouse Bill '()) provides it is the declared policy of the $tate to ensure the safety of its citi/ens, particularly passengers of public transport from crimes such as theft, robbery, homicide, kidnapping and the like% Towards this end, the $tate shall re8uire all operators of !"Vs to install a CCTV camera in their motor vehicles covered by a Certificate of !ublic Convenience with a corresponding #!$ tracking system% The bill provides that any operator of a public transport service who violates any provision of the proposed .ct shall, upon conviction, pay a fine of !);,;;; to !<;;,;;; for each !"V, and his franchise shall be suspended until the operator shall have complied with the re8uirement of installation of the CCTV camera with #!$ tracking system for all of the operator=s franchised motor vehicles% The chairman of the -and Transportation 1ffice (-T1 shall, in coordination with the chairman of the -and Transportation 2ranchising *egulatory Board (-T2*B , issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of the proposed .ct% . CCTV is a television system where cameras are connected to television monitors to perform surveillance of a limited area% 0t is a system device whose signals are not publicly distributed but are monitored, primarily for surveillance and security purposes% . #!$ tracking system meanwhile refers to a device that uses the #lobal !ositioning $ystem (#!$ to determine the precise location of a vehicle, person or other asset to which it is attached and to record the position of the asset at regular intervals% ('; rbb