THE awaited enforcement of curfew for minors cannot happen just yet.

This was pointed out by Atty. Farah Decano, City Administrator, since no Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) has been approved by the city council for the purpose.

“It (the ordinance) has not been fully implemented because it requires that we have to return to the Sangguniang Panlungsod and see the sample of the OVR that has to be approved by them (SP),” said Decano.

Decano said the city government cannot implement the ordinance authored by Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo in 2003 unless an OVR can be issued to parents of minors caught violating the curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The OVR is like a citation receipt or a charge slip and parents or guardians of the offending minors can immediately pay the fine indicated in the OVR.

She also submitted the opinion that based on the needs of Dagupan, the city government must already include other offenses by minors that have to be covered by the OVR.

Decano also said under the ordinance, it is the barangays tanods that must escort the minors violating the curfew to their homes.

Decano said that there is a need to revisit the ordinance passed by Councilor Tamayo in 2003 to include other offenses being committed by minors, such as littering, vandalism and others.

In the meantime, the Task Force Disiplina created by Mayor Belen Fernandez, with barangay chairmen as members, has been conducting information drive to inform parents of the terms of the curfew.

“Yes, we will intensify the enforcement of the law. However, the mayor is saying we should also take into consideration the human side,” said Decano, adding that this is the reason for the need to revisit the ordinance.

Meanwhile, Mayor Fernandez said that in the meantime that the curfew ordinance is not being enforced, the street children will be placed under the care of the City Social Welfare and Development Office. (Leonardo Micua)

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