CEBU CITY -- To prevent accidents, a Cebu City Councilor wants to regulate caroling on the streets and on board any public utility vehicles.
Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. has filed a proposal to amend City Ordinance (CO) 1931, which already declares it unlawful to go caroling between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Pe, who heads the council’s committee on public order and safety, said caroling on the streets and aboard public utility vehicles should be unlawful, regardless of the time of day.
“Carolers at present are visible any time of the day, from all ages, all walks of life, and even ply on every street corner, especially children. Reports of the increasing number of children or teenagers are noted crisscrossing streets, intersections, and even running on board public utility vehicles just to beg for alms from the commuters after singing Christmas song. In order to avoid accidents and prevent the immense pain it will bring to the children and their families, there is a need to regulate caroling,” said Pe.
In his proposed measure, Pe seeks to amend Section 1, Paragraphs 4 and 5 of CO 1931.
If approved, Paragraph 4 will state that at any time of the day on the streets and aboard any public utility vehicle, the act of caroling will be unlawful when made by a caroler without a permit from the Office of the Mayor and when done beyond the Christmas season.
Paragraph 5, on the other hand, will require violators to render community service for eight hours, upon the discretion of the court, aside from paying the P500 fine or getting detained for five days.
Lately, some pedestrians and passengers have complained about the increasingly aggressive behavior of street carolers, who tug on their bag straps or keep tapping them until they give in and pay.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Alvin Dizon has filed an ordinance that exempts senior citizens as well as persons with disabilities from paying parking fees in malls, hospitals and other establishments in the city that have pay parking facilities.
The pay parking exemption, however, does not include overnight parking in these establishments.
Dizon said senior citizens and persons with disabilities should enjoy the pay parking exemption, whether as drivers or passengers.
Those who violate the ordinance, once passed, will be fined P500 to P2,000 or face imprisonment of one month.
During their regular session last week, both Pe and Dizon’s proposed measures were referred to the committee on laws and ordinances chaired by Councilor Edgardo Labella, for comments and observations. (PDF of Sun.Star Cebu)
