Ralota mulls junkshop regulation

CEBU, Philippines - Junkshop owners in Cebu City will soon be required by the city government to secure business permits and to keep a logbook of all materials that they have purchased.

Councilor Michael Ralota, ex-officio members of the city council, sponsored an ordinance to regulate the operation of junkshops to minimize the incidents of theft of electric wires, water meters and communication lines.

Ralota’s proposed ordinance earned the support of the officials of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and other utility firms.

PLDT officials have been complaining that their lines are cut off by thieves. The wires which are made of copper are sold in junkshops.

Based on the proposed ordinance, junkshop owners will be fined P1,000 to P5,000 if they are caught operating without a logbook. False entries in the logbook could also be a ground for cancellation of the business permit.

The proposed ordinance also requires junkshop operators to grant policemen and other authorities to inspect their establishment, including the inspection of weighing scale and logbooks.

“There is an imperative need to protect the electric power, telecommunications, and water supply industries from the rampant theft and pilferage of various metallic facilities and materials which are eventually sold to junkshops,” Ralota said.

Republic Act 7832 or the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act also provides penalty for those who steal electricity lines.

This is on top of the other national law, Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law, which also grants visitation powers to the police for them to inspect surplus shops .