The City Government of Davao urged business owners to be vigilant against individuals who pose as personnel from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) or its Auxiliary Unit to sell a particular brand and unit of Closed-Circuit Television or CCTV.
City Councilor Luna Maria Dominique Acosta, Chairperson of the Committee on Peace and Public Safety, bared in her privilege speech during the 17th Regular Session of the City Council on Tuesday that reports from the Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) were forwarded to her office.
In these reports, Acosta said that there were unscrupulous individuals who prey on business eager to comply with the city’s amended CCTV ordinance.
“These individuals purporting to be members of the Davao City Police or from the Davao Police Auxiliary have been going around the establishments claiming that the ordinance requires a specific brand of CCTV to be installed and that they are selling the same,” she said.
The city started implementing the amended CCTV ordinance in 2024, and the PSSO has already started checking the compliance of establishments included in the ordinance.
Acosta clarified that there was no clause in the ordinance mandating that business owners should purchase and install a specific brand or unit of CCTV for the compliance of its provisions.
“The ordinance mandates only the minimum technical specifications that should be complied with by covered establishments,” she said.
Acosta also said that at least eight different known brands of CCTV and 20 specific units from these brands and others meet the minimum technical specifications stipulated under the ordinance.
“This gives business owners the choice of brand and unit to install in their establishments as long as they comply with the minimum technical specifications,” she said.
The DCPO and its auxiliary department already denied the involvement of any of their personnel as their office is not directly involved with the implementation of the ordinance and have not done any operations regarding this.
Acosta also emphasized that neither the City Government of Davao, the PSSO, nor the DCPO will ever ask businesses to purchase a particular unit or brand of CCTV or obtain such from any specific suppliers.
Business owners who encounter these individuals with the same modus are urged to get their names or take photographs and report to the DCPO, PSSO, or through the Davao City Reports (DCR).
Dabawenyos may send their concerns to the DCR through its online app (https://reports.davaocity.gov.ph/) or through its email at davaocityreports@davaocity.gov.ph. Reports may also be sent by messaging DCR through these numbers: 0917 131 2333 or 0919 072 2222; or through its Official Facebook Page: Davao City Reports. CIO
