Barangay Cctv Surveillance Act of 2025

... TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 17 P4:27 SENATE RECEI. CD D S. No._ Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT MANDATING THE INSTALLATION OF CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) SYSTEMS IN BARANGAY POSTS AND OTHER SPECIFIC LOCATIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUS) TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY EXPLANATORY NOTE In recent years, the necessity of strengthening public safety mechanisms has grown more urgent across the Philippines. To address this, the proposed measure seeks to mandate the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems in every barangay post, along with other critical public spaces within the jurisdiction of all Local Government Units (LGUs). The primary aim is to reinforce community protection, assist law enforcement efforts, deter criminal activity, and promote swift and accountable responses to incidents that affect public safety. Globally, CCTV technology has been adopted as a proven strategy for crime prevention, surveillance, and criminal prosecution. Countries like the United Kingdom have utilized CCTV systems extensively to deter criminal behavior, facilitate investigations, and enhance public confidence in community policing. The presence of CCTV cameras often discourages unlawful acts, while the captured footage serves as crucial evidence in legal proceedings. 1 1 Facit (2024). The history of CCTV in the UK, https://facit.ai/insights/the-history-of-cctv-in-the- uk#:~:text=Crime%20prevention%20and%20public%20safety,and%20prosecute%20crimes%20mor e%20effectively.

The Philippines can no longer afford to remain behind in adopting this security measure, especially as threats to peace and order persist in many communities. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the national crime rate declined by 18.4% in the first quarter of 2025, based on a comparative 70-day analysis. Reported incidents of the eight major "focus crimes" such as murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, and vehicle and motorcycle carnapping fell from 8,950 cases between November 3, 2024 and January 11, 2025 to 7,301 cases from January 12 to March 22, 2025. Despite this overall improvement, some crimes like carnapping have shown minimal fluctuations and remain relatively stable in occurrence, which highlights the continued need for preventive measures such as surveillance systems. In addition to criminal acts, the surge in road-related accidents, road rage, and traffic violations has underscored the necessity of monitoring public thoroughfares. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has actively responded to public outcry, particularly following high-profile incidents like the fatal car crash at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, where the driver was convicted of reckless driving. These incidents, which gained widespread attention on social media, emphasize how critical CCTV footage can be in upholding justice and transparency. Furthermore, modern advancements in digital surveillance technology have significantly enhanced the performance of CCTV systems. Today's cameras are capable of capturing high-definition video and transmitting real-time footage across a wide range of devices and locations. This makes them not only efficient for local governments but also scalable for integration into broader safety networks. The focus of this bill is the installation of CCTV cameras in every barangay post across all LGUs, ensuring that the grassroots level of governance is equipped with the tools necessary to safeguard constituents. 2 Calinawan, Christopher (2025). PNP: Crime rate down by 18.4% in over 2 months, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1246854#:~:text=MANILA%20%E2%80%93%20Crime%20rate%2 Onationwide%20dropped,and %20vehicle%20and%20motorcycle%20theft. 3 Rita, Joviland (2025). NAIA car crash driver guilty of reckless driving with P2,000 fine - LTO, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/947092/naia-car-crash-driver-guilty-reckless- driving-p2-000-fine-lto/story/.

Barangay posts, being the first line of contact between the community and public authorities, must be equipped with real-time surveillance to deter crime, monitor activity, and enable rapid response to emergencies. In conclusion, the enactment of this measure will modernize the security infrastructure of local communities and help build a safer environment across cities, municipalities, and barangays. By empowering LGUs with the mandate and resources to install CCTV systems at the barangay level, the government sends a clear message that safety and accountability begin at the grassroots. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. RAFFY T. TULFO buy

' . . TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 17 P4:27 SENATE RECEIVED E S. No.- Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT MANDATING THE INSTALLATION OF CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) SYSTEMS IN BARANGAY POSTS AND OTHER SPECIFIC LOCATIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs) TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Barangay CCTV

2 Surveillance Act of 2025."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

protect life, liberty, and property, and to maintain peace and order through modern 5 and proactive public safety mechanisms. To this end, the State shall institutionalize 6 the installation of security monitoring systems in all barangay posts and strategic public areas to deter crime, support law enforcement, and promote community safety.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following terms

are defined as follows: a) Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) - an electronic surveillance system that transmits video footage to a specific set of monitors for security and monitoring purposes. b) Security Monitoring System - includes CCTV cameras, recording equipment, storage devices, and associated technologies designed to observe, record, and manage surveillance footage.

c) Barangay Post - refers to any physical office, outpost, or satellite facility established by a barangay government to carry out its administrative and law enforcement functions.

Sec. 4. Installation of Security Monitoring Systems. — All barangays across the

5 country are hereby mandated to install and maintain high-quality CCTV systems in 6 their respective barangay posts and other critical areas under their jurisdiction, 7 including, but is not limited to, public markets, entrances to barangay roads, covered 8 courts, and evacuation centers. CCTV units shall be capable of recording clear, high- 9 definition footage suitable for identification and investigative purposes, with night 10 vision and weather-resistant features where necessary. Each area under surveillance 11 must also have visible signage clearly indicating the presence of CCTV cameras to 12 inform the public and promote transparency.

Sec. 5. Purposes of Security Monitoring. - The use of CCTV systems under this

Act shall serve the following purposes: a) Deter criminal activity and unlawful acts; b) Provide investigative support to law enforcement agencies; c) Monitor high-traffic public areas and incident-prone zones; d) Facilitate quick and coordinated response during emergencies; and, e) Strengthen public trust and accountability in community governance.

Sec. 6. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts shall be prohibited:

a) Tampering with, disabling, or destroying CCTV equipment; b) Unauthorized access to, or misuse of, recorded footage; c) Use of CCTV systems for political, commercial, or personal gain; and, d) Filming of private areas such as inside homes or restrooms.

Sec. 7. Access and Disclosure of Recordings. - Access to CCTV recordings shall

be restricted to authorized personnel and may only be disclosed for: a) Official investigations by law enforcement agencies; b) Legal proceedings upon court order; and, C) Emergency response and public safety purposes.

Sec. 8. Data Retention and Storage. - Recorded footage shall be retained for

a minimum of sixty (60) days, unless required for ongoing investigations or judicial

1 processes. Storage devices must be secured and protected from tampering, theft, or unauthorized access.

Sec. 9. Data Protection. - All recordings shall be managed in accordance with

the provisions of Republic Act No. 10173, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and any applicable rules issued by the National Privacy Commission.

Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation

7 of this Act shall be charged to the funds of the respective LGUs. Thereafter, the necessary funds shall be included in the annual budget of the LGUs. National 9 government agencies may also provide supplemental funding and grants.

Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from

11 the effectivity of this Act, the Department of the Interior and Local Government 12 (DILG), in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications 13 Technology (DICT), National Privacy Commission (NPC), and other concerned 14 agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 15 implementation of this Act.

Sec. 12. Penalties. — Any person found guilty of violating any provision of this

17 Act shall be penalized with imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more 18 than three (3) years, and/or a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000) but not more than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000), without prejudice to 20 any administrative or criminal liability under existing laws.

Sec. 13. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared

22 unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules, and

regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,