BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring all business establishments in the city to install reflectorized tapes or eye catching markers on all glass doors and glass panels of their businesses for purposes of public safety and providing penalties for violations of the measure.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Joel Alangsab stated that the reflectorized tapes or eye catching markers will be placed or installed permanently on the glass door or panels within the view where they could easily be noticed and seen by people.
The ordinance added that the installation of reflectorized tapes and eye catching markers shall be a requisite prior to the issuance of business permit and license to operate of the concerned establishments in the different parts of the city.
Under the pertinent provisions of the ordinance, violators shall be imposed with a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, a fine of P2,000 for the second offense and temporary closure of the establishment for the third offense.
The ordinance added that all concerned offices and agencies of the local government and the city’s 128 barangays shall effect the citywide dissemination of the pertinent provisions of the measure.
The City Permits and Licensing Division under the City Mayor’s Office and the City Buildings and Architecture office will be tasked to implement the provisions of the ordinance and shall likewise formulate the implementing rules and regulations to ensure strict compliance on the part of the concerned establishment owners.
The Local Government Code of 1991 provided that the City Council, as the legislative body of the city, shall enact ordinances for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants and shall regulate activities relative to the use of land, buildings and structures within the city to promote the general welfare and for said purposes shall declare, prevent or abate any nuisance.
Alangsab claimed it has been observed that some developers of buildings in the different parts of the city have adopted glass doors and glass panels in their structural designs and due to its transparency, people have often mistaken these see-through glass doors and panels as free and unblocked passage ways or open windows wherein any person may accidentally bump into it.
According to him, this kind of accident poses danger to life and could bring injury to the person when the glass brakes because of the heavy impact of the bump.
The ordinance stipulated that future accidents can be avoided by adopting protective measures for the safety of the public, especially among the elderly and the visually impaired individuals who have problems on distinguishing the see-through panels when passing through the said structures.
The ordinance claimed that business owners will given sufficient time by the local government to comply with the prescribed provisions once it will be approved on third and final reading and subsequently signed by the City Mayor.
The reflectorized tapes and eye catching markers will serve as early warning devices for the public not to bump the installed glass doors and panels in the said establishments.
By Dexter A. See
