Baguio city: The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) is advocating for the rigorous enforcement of the "No CCTV, no business permit" ordinance to combat the rising crime rate, which has seen a 16.5 percent increase from April to July compared to the same period in 2025.

According to Philippines News Agency, several robbery and theft incidents, particularly in business settings such as transient houses, have been challenging to solve due to the lack of witnesses or evidence. BCPO Director Col. Ruel Tagel emphasized the importance of CCTV cameras as potential evidence in solving these crimes. "Had there been CCTV cameras, they could serve as proof of the incident," Tagel mentioned during an interview on Wednesday.

The local police are being urged to enforce compliance with Ordinance 11-2017, mandating business establishments to install CCTV cameras, video recorders, and monitors as a security measure. This ordinance, known as the "No CCTV, no business permit ordinance," is aimed at reducing crime rates in the city. "We are currently surveying the number of establishments with CCTV. The visit of our police personnel to establishments is also our way of doing police visibility," Tagel noted.

Highlighting the preventive nature of these security measures, Tagel stated, "It is the first thing that people with criminal minds look for before they execute their criminal acts." The BCPO is committed to ensuring that businesses adhere to this ordinance to enhance public safety and deter criminal activities.