The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance prohibiting politicians and private individuals from putting up posters, signages, images or pictures on public and private properties and vehicles.
Under the proposed ordinance, it shall be the policy of the local government that there shall be no names or initials or images or pictures whatsoever of all politicians and private individuals on private and public properties and vehicles.
Further, it shall be unlawful for politicians, public officials or private individuals to affix their names by way of inscription, painting, engraving, sculpting or superimposing one’s name, symbol, or sign using paint, metal or plastic craft, tarpaulin, wood or cement structure on private and public properties.
The ordinance stipulated that affixing names of politicians and private individuals shall also be prohibited on private and public equipment and vehicles.
According to the proposed measure, the said prohibition is applicable to movable properties, such as construction equipment, trucks, ambulances, police cars, buses, jeepneys, motorcycles, bicycles, office equipment, hospital equipment, communication equipment, sacks of goods for distribution among others.
Politicians or public officials or any private person responsible in violating the pertinent provisions of the ordinance shall be penalized pursuant to the same such as if the violator is a politician or public office, he or she shall be fined PhP5,000 and suspension for one month or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days at the discretion of a competent court and if the violator is a private individual, he or she shall be fined PhP3,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days at the discretion of a competent court.
The ordinance claimed that it has been observed that enterprising individuals, especially before elections, put up posters, signages, images or pictures on public and private properties and vehicles using any flimsy excuse, such as greetings on occasions or events, or even advising motorists to drive carefully or any other self-promoting greetings just to advertise their names.
Moreover, the said self-promoting materials reportedly litter the public and private spaces which cause pollution to the atmosphere and are also considered as public nuisance to the detriment of the community and the public.
The ordinance pointed out that the said practices are deceptive if not unethical which need to be stopped so that no unwarranted advances shall be made by the politicians and private individuals. By Dexter A. See
