BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance amending Ordinance No. 25, series of 1990 which makes it mandatory to always follow the policy of first come, first serve in all instances when it is necessary and providing penalties for violations thereof.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Joel Alangsab stated that Ordinance No. 25, series of 1990 will now be interpreted that it will be required the policy of first come, first serve be always followed in securing or buying of stamps at the post office or tickets in bus stations, movie houses, concerts and athletic competitions; paying tuition fees or dues in schools, taxes and other dues with any government office or bills in hospitals and institutions; securing permits for any examinations or clearances from government offices and the like as well as in entering public utility vehicles; movie houses, concerts, conventions and athletic competitions.
Further, the prohibited acts as contained in the proposed amendatory ordinance include overtly or covertly entering a line at any position other than the end which may include joining others in the line or using any instrument or scheme to save a slot or space in a line; break up a line or employ devices and schemes to disrupt the order and cause confusions as to order of persons in physical or virtual line; use of any physical force, threats, intimidation or influence by virtue of power, social status, prominence, or reputation to cut in, break up or disrupt the order of a line; employ devices, schemes, and deceit in order to cut in, break up, or disrupt the order of a line or knowingly given consent for the foregoing acts by allowing another person to insert, cut in, break up or disrupt the order of a line.
However, the ordinance stipulated that senior citizens as defined under Republic Act (RA) 9994, persons with disabilities (PWDs) defined under RA 7432, pregnant women, women with babies and persons who by reason of health, national security or public interest needing immediate goods and services, are exempted from the provisions of the proposed measure.
The amendatory ordinance added that notices of the policy on first come, first serve shall be conspicuously posted in bus stations and jeepney terminals, concert and athletic competition venues, schools, movie houses, post office and other government offices and the like and that there is always a notice posted at the premises of the goods or service provider indicating the existence and requiring a formation of a line.
Violation of the provisions of the amendatory ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, a fine of P2,000 for the second offense, a fine of P5,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.
Moreover the failure of establishments and institutions to post the desired notice of the policy shall cause the imposition of the penalty of a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, a fine of P2,000 for the second offense and a fine of P5,000 for the third and succeeding offenses against the owner.
The proponent noted that the lack of discipline among the people is considered as irksome and sometimes the cause of squabbles and rant over the social media, thus, the need to enact the needed amendment to increase the penalties for violators to serve as a lesson for them to reform in their behaviour on public places.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
