An ordinance approving the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in all public elementary and high schools in Bacolod City, was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on third and final reading yesterday.
The ordinance was authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, and co-authored by Councilors Archie Baribar, Noli Villarosa, and Alex Paglumotan. T he employment of CCTV/ Video Surveillance System(VSS) cameras by any entity, particularly by the local government unit purposely to record factual evidence of crime has been proven to be an effective instrument to deter any act of lawlessness, the ordinance said. T he Sanguniang passed City Ordinance No. 595, series of 2012, called the “ Bacolod City Eye in the Sky Comprehensive Closed-Circuit Television Ordinance” and City Ordinance No. 600, series of 2012, or “ An Ordinance Requiring all Banks and other Financial Institutions as well as Certain Business Establishments within the City of Bacolod to Install Closed-Circuit Television(CCTV) within their premises,” it said. The ordinance said these local laws, however, do not include schools where recently crimes have been committed against the victims by lawless elements, thereby necessitating the installation of CCTV/ VSS cameras in their campuses or premises. Violation of the provisions of the ordinance, particularly sections 5 and 7, will render violators a penalty of P2,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offence, and P5,000 for the third offense and an imprisonment or penalty of six months to one year or both fine and penalty at the discretion of the Court. The SP also approved an ordinance making voluntary blood donation as a settlement instead of fine in violation of traffic regulations. The ordinance authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, said scarcity of blood has been noticed, not just by foreign countries or their health providers, but by the International Red Cross. Nationally, such serious concern was identified when dengue illness hit the country, particularly Bacolod which resulted in the shortage of blood in the hospitals in the city, whereby increasing its cost that contributed to the cause of death of many poor patients, particularly the children, it said. The ordinance also said PNRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang stated that last 2013 there was shortage of blood, considering that out of the 950,000 units of blood needed by the country, PNRC was only able to collect 440,000 units of blood. This only representing 49.6 percent of the nation's badly needed blood. And, because of this situation, the global theme: “More Blood, More Life!” for ‘World Blood Day' last June 14, 2013 was adopted by the Department of Health when it observed the National Voluntary Blood Donation Month last July 2013, it said. Republic Act No. 7719, “An Act Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation, Providing for an Adequate Supply of Safe Blood, Regulating Blood Banks, and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof,” was passed by Congress to institutionalize and ensure an adequate supply of blood. Among the measures considered to generate additional blood for patients is to recognize the voluntary donation of blood by traffic violators in lieu of the mandated fine, it added.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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