BCPO Renews Push for CCTV Upgrade, Ordinance Revisions

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, city director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), has renewed his call for the City Council to revise ordinances governing closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera use to improve access and upgrade surveillance systems for crime prevention.

In a recent media interview, Coronica emphasized that as criminals evolve, the city must modernize its law enforcement strategies, noting that enhanced surveillance is key to tracking increasingly sophisticated offenders.

The proposed revisions aim to consolidate and update three ordinances: City Ordinance No. 667 (CCTV in public schools), Ordinance No. 595 (Eye in the Sky Comprehensive Ordinance), and Ordinance No. 600 (CCTV in banks, financial institutions, and businesses).

Coronica said current rules require police to secure a court order to access CCTV footage unless a business voluntarily cooperates.

He argued that this delays urgent investigations, especially during hot pursuit operations where real-time access to footage is critical.

“Usually, we just need to immediately view the CCTV to enable us to identify the suspect and track his entry or exit points,” he said.

He also proposed scaling CCTV requirements based on business size and risk level, saying small shops may need fewer cameras while large businesses should install more.

Proper camera placement—particularly at eye level and near entry points—and the use of high-definition CCTV systems were also recommended for clearer facial recognition.

As a further deterrent, Coronica suggested requiring customers to remove hats and sunglasses when entering establishments to ensure clear footage.

Councilor Psyche Marie “Pao” Sy, chair of the committee on Fire, National Disasters, and Calamities, expressed support for amending the ordinance, according to Coronica, following discussions during last week’s second quarter meeting of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC).

Coronica, who raised similar concerns last year, said he hopes for action this time.

“What is important is that we have made our proposals because we also want our actions to be attuned to the needs of the time,” he said.

The updated ordinance would align better with the city’s goal of becoming a “super city” that attracts investment through peace and order, he added.

“We’re counting on support from barangays and the business sector to ensure successful implementation,” he said.

Coronica also backed Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez’s plan to launch a 200-camera citywide CCTV system and a central command center to bolster law enforcement and disaster response efforts.

During the same meeting, BCPO reported a 2 percent drop in crime over the past two quarters.

From April to May 2025, police arrested 121 individuals, including four listed on barangay drug watchlists.

Coronica raised concern that many of the suspects were not on any list, highlighting the need for stronger involvement from barangay anti-drug abuse councils (BADAC).

“Almost all crimes are drug-related,” he said. “We need grassroots-level action to fight this.”