City girds for implementation of anti-littering, vandalism ordinance
The enforcement arm of the Iloilo City Solid Waste Management Board (ICSWMB) will start implementing regulation Ordinance 149, an ordinance which prescribes the penalties for activities inimical to cleanliness and sanitation next month.
Engr. Helen Sotomil of the ICSWMB said they will conduct information and education campaign on the said ordinance from September 29 until October 10, 2008.
The enforcement team of the solid management board is composed of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office and City Environment and Natural Resources.
Ordinance 149 prohibits littering on the street, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds and other public places, urinating, defecating or spitting in public places, painting, inscribing or posting graffiti on public places or public buildings, walls, fence and similar places.
It also prohibits vandalism of public or private property. The failure to clean the premises surrounding the public and private building or vacant lots connotes violation in the ordinance. The city mayor may order the cleaning of the premises of vacant lot at the expense of the owner.
A person found violating the ordinance shall be issued a citation ticket in such a form as the city mayor may devise commanding the violator to appear before the mayor's office within 72-hours from the issuance to the violator to show cause why she or he should not be prosecuted for violating the ordinance.
Within 72-hour period, the respondent may elect in lieu of the prosecution to voluntary fine. For the 1st offense the fine is P500; 2nd offense P750 and 3rd offense P1,000. In the 4th offense, there is no fine as the case would be referred to the City Prosecutors Office.
Sotomil said they have asked for the assistance of the 180 barangay captains to assist in the information campaign. Those coming from the province are not exempted from the ordinance. "There should be no boundary and it will excuse no one," she said.
She added that the enforcement team would be accompanied by a police in case there would be resistance on the part of the offender. During the information campaign period, the offenders will be only issued a sanitation citation ticket. The names of the violators and their corresponding barangays would only be put on record.
The commercial establishment owners were also directed to observe the garbage collection period or else they will also be penalized.