City officials requested the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) to further strengthen the ongoing campaign against all forms of vandalism in the city to help in bringing back cleanliness and orderliness in the country’s undisputed Summer Capital.
Under Resolution No. 239, series of 2022, local legislators stated that the BCPO needs to further strengthen the implementation of all legislative measures to prevent vandalism in the city that tend to affect the efforts of the city government to clean public places from unnecessary graffiti.
Earlier, the city’s legislative body passed Ordinance No. 041, series of 2008, otherwise known as the Anti-Graffiti Code of the City of Baguio, which prohibits defacement of any city-owned or privately-owned property, and possession of graffiti implements like aerosol spray or broad-tipped indelible marker, pen, marker, pen materials, or instruments while near or within public or private properties.
Further, Resolution No. 589, series of 2020, urged the various barangay officials and the BCPO to be vigilant and to deter all acts of vandalism in public places and places that showcase works of arts in the city.
As a result of the rich cultural and creative work of arts expressed through various fine works and activities of the local artists that had been fully supported by the local government, the body stipulated that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated Baguio City on October 31, 2017 as a Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts.
However, the council claimed that the aforesaid achievement is being threatened and marred by vandals defacing and destroying public and private properties, an act of public nuisance that need to be fully attended and prevented.
The council anchored the approval of the said resolution on Section 16 of Republic Act (RA) 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, provided that every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.
Within their respective territorial jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residence, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.
