The City Council approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance banning golf carts from plying any public road or street in the city and providing penalties for violation of the said measure.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Joel Alangsab states it shall be a policy of the city government to ban or prohibit golf carts from plying any public road or street in the city except when crossing or traversing a public road or street going to another portion of the golf course area; during international or local tournaments by the city, provided that, a permit has been secured ad when authorized by law or ordinance.
Under the provisions of the proposed ordinance, any person or persons-in-charge who knowingly allow, abate, authorize or tolerate the prohibited acts, or who otherwise fails to fulfil the duties and obligations of the measure shall be fined P2,000 or imprisonment of not more than 1 month but not less than 20 days or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the first offense; a fine of P3,000 or imprisonment of not more than 3 months but not less than 1 month or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the second offense and a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than 6 months but not more than 3 months or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the third offense.
For persons-in-charge who knowingly allow, abate, authorize or tolerate the prohibited acts or who otherwise fails to full the duties and obligations contained in the proposed measure shall be penalized with a fine of P3,000 or imprisonment of not more than 3 months but not less than 1 month or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the first offense; a fine of P4,000 or imprisonment of not more than 4 months but not less than 3 months or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the second offense and a fine of P5,000 plus revocation of business permit if applicable or imprisonment of not more than 6 months but not less than 4 months or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the third offense.
The ordinance tasked the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), the Traffic Management Unit of the city government, the City Permits and Licensing Division under the City Mayor’s Office and the barangay concerned to implement the pertinent provisions of the proposed measure.
Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code empowers every local government unit to 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 governments shall ensure the 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 capacities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants. By Dexter A. See
