A YEAR after the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the campus main roads, the University will be putting up surveillance cameras in all buildings to tighten campus security.
“Practically, we need CCTV cameras in any establishment. There are reasons why we are installing cameras, [some of which are]: security, vandalism, and burglary,” said Fr. Roberto Pinto, O.P., Facilities and Management Office (FMO) director.
Security chief Joseph Badinas, meanwhile, said the installation of cameras last year helped in the drive against crime on campus.
“CCTV enabled us to track people who are doing something suspicious,” Badinas said. “We also used CCTV for areas that have no guards on duty.”
Pinto, however, declined to disclose details such as where exactly the cameras will be installed, saying a memo will be issued after the installation.
“I don’t want to release [further] information [yet] about the CCTV for security matters, but in general, there will be installation of security cameras inside the buildings,” Pinto said.
College of Architecture Dean John Joseph Fernandez said cameras would be installed inside the classrooms of the Beato Angelico Building.
“The purpose of installing CCTV cameras is to catch vandals red-handed, so we could lessen the cost of rehabilitating the classrooms,” Fernandez said.
According to Fernandez, vandalism, or what he described as the “creativeness of the students,” could be seen even on podiums, walls, ceilings, and hallways.
Fernandez said the college has been losing items such as push buttons of elevators and smoke alarms over the years.
“We did replace [the missing items], but we keep on losing [them]. Someone is stealing them. Definitely it’s not from the faculty, so it must be one of the students. We’re not really aware whether it’s from Fine Arts and Design or Architecture,” Fernandez said.
Some students expressed qualms over the need for surveillance cameras.
“Why do they have to monitor [people in the campus]? It’s like they don’t have trust in the students,” said Engineering freshman John Benedict Rebello.
Pinto said the installation of CCTV inside classrooms does not violate the right to privacy. What is prohibited is the recording of conversations, he said.
A classmate of Rebello, Richmond Frias, said he had no problem with CCTV cameras as long as they would not affect tuition.
“If they will not affect the tuition, why not? If it will be for the students’ safety,” said Frias. “Also, they could monitor the students especially when there is no professor.”
At the College of Science, cameras will be installed inside the laboratories as well.
Science Dean Maribel Nonato said faculty members did not oppose the installation of cameras.
“So far there were no negative reactions. We already informed the department chairs that CCTV cameras will be installed and asked them to tell the [rest of the] faculty,” she said. Kalaine Nikka Kay C. Grafil
