BAGUIO CITY – Members of the city legislative body filed a proposed ordinance amending Ordinance No. 021, series of 2000 or the city’s Code of Public Safety during special celebrations by incorporating certain rules and regulations enshrined in the latest issuance of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The ordinance authored by all members of the city legislative body stated the need to update the city’s Code of Public Safety during special celebrations to include certain rules and regulations contained in the latest issuances of concerned government agencies, including the DILG, for the same to be responsive to the current needs of the public.
Earlier, the DILG issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 93125 suggesting to all local governments certain rules and regulations that should be strictly followed during the conduct of special events in their areas of jurisdiction.
Under the proposed ordinance, on road and river safety, covering or repairing of potholes and diggings and other excavations should be done a month before the actual activities; clearing of sidewalks of obstructions; designating specific areas for ambulant vendors; installing of appropriate traffic signs and enforcement of traffic ordinances; all faded or unreadable traffic signages, road markings and pavement markings must be replaced; other traffic signages needed during the activities will be delivered by the City Office to the traffic enforcement unit; proper placement of streamers, buntings and other materials installed on alleys and roadways wherein streamers must be properly installed on galvanized iron posts, steel posts, or concrete posts along approved posting areas; applicants must secure necessary documents such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) clearance and sign permits from the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) before posting of streamers; the City Engineering Office (CEO) should identify the designated posting areas in the barangays and along national highways in coordination with the DPWH and prepare a typical design of steel frame structures where streamers shall be officially posted; streamers, buntings and other materials to be installed on alleys shall be placed a week before the activities; maintenance and removal of streamers during typhoons or natural calamities shall be the responsibility of the applicant or permittee and clearing of the rivers of obstructions like water lilies, garbage and other flotsam and debris should be done weeks before the activities.
On review of design and floats, platforms, towers, stages, pagodas among others, the ordinance provided that structure soundness and safety must be prioritized; enforcement of maximum load capacities should be enforced; floats must be designed to carry enough loads such as load from its frame, flowers and accessories; the working area for the construction of the float must be secured by installation perimeter fence to prevent public from entering during construction stage; the vehicle of the organizer must be in good running condition before constructing the float to prevent any form of accident during the parade; the vehicle must thoroughly be checked by the organizer to prevent accidents and installation of electrical wirings for a lots, platforms, and stages must be supervised and maintained by the licensed electrician of the organizer and monitored by the CBAO for platforms and stages and the CEO for streetlights.
By Dexter A. see
