The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance designating an art expression wall or walls in each of the city’s one hundred twenty eight barangays and providing guidelines for the said purpose.
Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr., each barangay shall designate an art expression wall in its jurisdiction that those interested in using or painting something on the said wall must first coordinate with the concerned barangay for proper scheduling of activities to prevent chaos.
Further, persons qualified and approved by the barangay to paint on the said walls shall use non-toxic lead-free and water-based paints.
However, the barangays may take down or erase the art painted if it causes unreasonable damage to the peace and order of the community.
The council claimed that painting of surfaces other than the designated art expression wall shall be constitute vandalism or defacement of walls and the offenders shall be apprehended and penalized for violating existing anti-vandalism ordinances.
The ordinance pointed out that the proposed art expression walls in the city’s barangays aim to create a platform for creative communities to express themselves through free will.
Moreover, the body asserted that it is appropriate to establish an art expression wall in each of the city’s 128 barangays to curb the proliferation of vandalism of walls in the different parts of the city and to maintain the general cleanliness of its surroundings as well as beautify the community.
The proposed ordinance was referred to the appropriate committee for study and recommendation whether or not the measure will be approved on second and third readings. By Dexter A. See
