BALON DAGUPAN NEWS

DAGUPAN CITY – In a move to enforce more discipline in the streets, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez has vowed to intensify the enforcement of the city’s ordinances that regulate certain behaviors in the streets in line with the thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte.

However, the city mayor wants a more humanized enforcement of the law.

Mayor Fernandez will soon sign an Executive Order creating a task force with her as chairperson, along with Police Superintendent Christopher N. Abrahano, Chief of Police as Vice Chair Disiplina; and City Population Office Head Leah Aquino as Vice Chair Kalinga.

To be included as members are Barangay officials and their Tanods; the City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Action Service Team, Public Order and Safety Office, Anti Littering Task Force, Waste Management Division, One Stop Business Center, Bantay Ilog and Market Inspectors.

The task force’s mandate will be to implement the city’s comprehensive solid waste management program, measures against flesh trade; enforce curfew hour, dress code for drivers, cleanliness and sanitation, regulate the conduct of caroling, serenading, band playing, passion singing activities and prohibit noise emanating from any singing activity; prohibit minors drinking liquor or intoxicating beverages, admission of minors in all computer shops during school days, stray animals and promote Children’s Development Code of Dagupan City and other national and local laws all with corresponding penalty provisions.

Under the comprehensive solid waste management ordinance, the dumping of solid waste in the highway, streets, alley or road, public parks, recreation areas, river, creek coastal waters or other waters of the city will be strictly prohibited and punishable by a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense and P3,000 for the third offense or an imprisonment of 15 days to six months.

The dress code for drivers prohibits wearing of sando, sleeveless shirts, and short pants and or wearing slippers or sandals while driving or operating a public utility vehicle including tricycles for hire within the territorial limits of the city will be meted with fines ranging from P100, P300 and P500 for the first, second and third offenses, respectively. They may voluntarily pay the fine to the One Stop Business Center within three days in which case no case may be filed against the violators.

On acts and omissions inimical to cleanliness and sanitation, spitting and discharging mucus in public beyond the waste receptacles, urinating and defecating in places other than designated comfort rooms, vandalism are penalized with fines and community services. For the first offense, an offender will have to pay P300 and minimum of 24 hours of community service; second offense – P500 and a minimum of 50 hours of community service; and P1,000 and minimum of 100 hours of community service for the third offense.

Selling, bartering or giving of liquor to persons below 18 years of age is prohibited and is penalized accordingly. For the first offense, a fine of P3,000 is imposed; second offense, P4,000; and for the third offense, P5,000. The owner, manager and licensee may also be held liable.

Drinking liquor by a minor at any place is penalized as follows: first offense, P3,000; second offense, P4,000; and third offense, P5,000 or imprisonment of seven to 30 days. Minor offenders will be referred to the Social Welfare Office in observance with the Juvenile Justice Law.

Allowing rental of electronic video games by commercial establishments to children during school hours means suspension of business permit for 15 days for the first offense. A violation of the same within one year from first offense would mean permanent cancellation of business permit.

Admitting minors in the premises of videogame and computer games houses and similar establishments and permitting, inducing and abetting minors to play video games, computer games and other games during school days from Mondays to Fridays from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm is punishable by a fine of P3,000 and or imprisonment of one  month to two months for the first offense and P5,000 and/or imprisonment of two months to three months and closure of business and cancellation of business permit.

Allowing customers to engage in cybersex and cyber pornography is punishable by suspension of business permit for 30 days for the first offense and permanent cancellation of business permit within one year from first offense.

Parents of guardians neglecting children by allowing them to roam the streets between 10 pm and 4 pm will be administratively fined with a warning on the first offense but will pay the corresponding penalties of P300 and P500 on the second and third offenses, respectively and imprisonment of seven days and fine of P5,000.

Soliciting, negotiating and purchasing sexual services or promoting or brokering the flesh trade in violation of the Anti-Flesh Trade Ordinance will be meted with three months imprisonment and a fine of P3,000; if persons exploited are minors RA 7160 shall apply; but seller of sexual service, as a victim, will not be arrested.

Smoking in public in violation of RA 8749 or the Act Providing For A Comprehensive Air Pollution Control, Policy and for other purposes is punishable by a fine between P10,000 to 100,000 and imprisonment of six months to six years.

Operation of unregistered videoke machine and unenclosed videoke bars with sounds that are not contained beyond 7:00 pm or noise from any singing activity is also prohibited and is punishable by a fine of P1,000 for the first offense; P3,000 for the second offense; and P5,000 and/or imprisonment of six months for  the third offense. To stop the singing, a complaint must first be logged in barangay blotter.

Drinking liquor in public roads and sidewalks in violation of Presidential Decree 17, PD 1096 and RA 917 and wandering the public places, roads and streets whether naked or half naked under the provisions of Civil Code on Nuisance and Public Decency will also be enforced.

Allowing stray animals to roam around public roads will be fined as follows: for cows, carabaos, horses, etc. – P500 each; for dogs, pigs, sheep, etc, – P100 each; and for chickens, turkeys, ducks, etc. – P50 each.

Mayor Fernandez disclosed that the task force will strictly observe children and human rights in the implementation of the laws. Exploited persons, women and children, who are subject of the aforesaid laws must always be referred to the City Social Worker who shall evaluate the circumstances of involved children and women.

To necessarily enforce these ordinances strategically and simultaneously, the task force is broken into sub-task force units with powers to devise programs, plans and strategies without sacrificing the rights of the people.

“We will hold regular monthly meetings and whenever necessary. To ensure that we do not violate the right of the people, we will coordinate with other government agencies such as the prosecutors’ office for guidance and assistance,” said Mayor Fernandez as she enjoined everyone to observed the ordinances and avoid getting apprehended or penalized. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)

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