Priests want practice of enclosing plazas stopped
Priests in the city of Iloilo have called on Mayor Jerry Treñas to put an end to the practice of enclosing public plazas and "turning them into a market place and source of noise pollution" during high religious festivities and district fiestas.
The call was made through a letter of appeal signed by at least 27 priests during a joint meeting of Iloilo City Vicariates, composed of the vicariates of Sts. Peter and Paul, Archdiocese of Jaro.
Representatives from the City Engineer's Office and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office attended the said joint meeting.
The priests cited four observations as basis of their letter of appeal. First, they contend that "the enclosure of the plaza leads to proliferation of garbage and unhygienic practices for lack of public restrooms enough for the number of people gathered and enclosed."
Second, the priests asserted that "the noise that emanate from the plaza can sometimes last for months on end (as in the case of Jaro), and get in the way of worship celebrations in Churches that front it."
Third, they cited that there are already existing ordinances that prohibit the serving of alcoholic drinks and gambling establishments in areas near churches and schools. "We are only requesting the implementation of this ordinance(s)," the priests said.
Finally, the priests averred that "whatever beautification the city or community has done to our plazas are damaged by such events."
One of the signatories in the letter of appeal reached by The News Today (TNT) said that the barangay could look for other vacant spaces where to hold such activities other than the public plaza. "It doesn't have to be in the plaza anyway," said the priest.
It is common practice in the city that district plazas are enclosed during fiestas to accommodate carnivals, stalls selling assorted items and kiosks serving alcoholic drinks. The use of the plaza for such activities usually lasts from one month to two months and it is being used as a revenue-generating measure by the district's Association of Barangay Captains (ABC). People entering the plaza during the period are charged entrance fee while stalls and kiosks pay certain amount to the ABC on a daily basis.
An ABC district president interviewed by TNT but refused to be named said they respect the move of the clergy and they are open to a possible dialog with them to reach a common ground. The village chief said they would be most willing to regulate the holding of carnivals and vending activities inside the plaza to adhere to the request of the priests but he said it should not be totally discontinued. The barangay captain said the holding of such activities in the plaza gives the people a feel of a fiesta atmosphere.
Mayor Treñas's reaction to the clergy's letter of appeal was not immediately known but earlier the mayor was reported saying that he wanted the use of the plaza for commercial activities during fiesta celebrations stopped.