BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring all operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as buses, mini-buses, tourist land transport units and UV express service bound for the city to install audio or visual aids in their terminals and vehicles that remind passengers to strictly observe ordinances regulating sanitation and cleanliness, traffic, health and the use of plastic and Styrofoam.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Elaine D. Sembrano stated that the measure aims to guide and remind passengers that there are local legislative measures to be followed; to promote comfort, convenience, and the general welfare of the public and to reduce violations of local measures.
Under the proposed ordinance, any individual found violating pertinent provisions of the measure shall be penalized with a fine of P1,500 for the first offense, P2,500 for the second offense, of P3,500 for the third offense, and P5,000 for the succeeding offenses.
The ordinance added that compliance to the explicit requirements provided in the measure shall be a major document that will be produced by the operators in the issuance of their business permits.
The ordinance stipulated that the City Tourism Office under the Office of Administration shall issue the necessary clearance stating, among others, that the operator strictly complied with the provisions of the measure prior to the filing of their application for the issuance of their business permits.
The City Tourism Office will be further tasked to coordinate with the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and the City Permits and Licensing Division under the City Mayor’s office for the strict implementation of the pertinent provisions of the measure and monitor the compliance of the PUV operators to such simple requirements.
Moreover, the City Tourism Office and the BCPO will be tasked to prepare the implementing rules and regulations and to submit the same to the City Mayor and to the local legislative body for approval and for subsequent implementation.
The ordinance noted that violations on sanitation, cleanliness, traffic, and prohibited use of plastics and Styrofoam remain unrestrained and it could be attributed to lack of knowledge or ignorance of existing local ordinances.
According to the proposal, ordinances on littering, improper garbage disposal, violations of traffic rules and regulations, smoking in public places and prohibited use of plastic and Styrofoam are the most common violated measures in the city.
The ordinance claimed that the aforesaid violations could be prevented through aggressive information and education campaign on the salient provisions of all existing ordinances and resolutions of the city before visitors or passengers of public utility vehicles reach the city.
The ordinance asserted that the irresponsible and careless violation of existing measures prevent the efforts of the local government and concerned residents to succeed in maintaining a clean, health and orderly place to live in. by Dexter A. See
