Opposition councilors hit Osmeña on plan to ban aerosol paints

CEBU, Philippines — Some opposition councilors are opposed to the plan of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to ban the use of aerosol paints.

Councilor Joel Garganera said banning aerosol spray paints is not an effective way to address gang problem in the city. He said law enforcement would be more efficient rather than going after aerosol paints.

Although he proposed an ordinance two weeks ago seeking to penalize anyone caught using aerosol paints to vandalize walls or any structure, Garganera is against its total ban.

Under the proposed Anti-Vandalism Ordinance of 2018, it is prohibited to deface or damage any structure within Cebu City.

“Mahitungod aning grabe nga vandals sa dakbayan and in fact diha sa maong ordinance naay corresponding penalties kay wala man tay existing ordinance ana,” Garganera said.

He is proposing P1,000 fine , five days community service, and restoration of the damaged property for the first offense. The penalty is P3,000 fine for the second offense, 10 days community service and restoration of property for the second offense. Third offenders will be slapped with P5,000 fine and 30 days imprisonment. The proposed legislative measure is now pending for deliberation before the City Council.

Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover said that educating the youths about the bad effects of gangs is much better than the plan of Osmeña.

He said banning the use of aerosol spray paints will only affect the economy of the country. He added that vandalism is not only limited to using aerosol paints.

“Ang akong punto diha dili niya i-ban, importante ang presensya sa law enforcers and maybe mobilizing our barangay tanods. The problem is not the spray paints but the person behind it, kay imo nang i-ban makatarog na sa ekonomiya,” Alcover said.

Alcover and Garganera are both members of Barug Team Rama.

“Sakto to nga dili na mao, wala man gani ta ka ban sa rugby nga gigamit sa minors, kana naba nuon. Kini atong mayor bitaw magpahugyaw but it was not the solution,” Garganera said.

Osmeña earlier asked Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the council committee on public order and safety, to draft an ordinance banning the use of aerosol spray paints because it allegedly promotes gang activities. Tumulak said he is still doing a research on how to go about it.

Meanwhile, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera is also opposed to the recent pronouncement of Osmeña to suspend the honorarium of barangay tanods who are found ineffective in implementing the curfew ordinance.

“Kanang term nga suspend ba, usa siya mo-suspend sweldohan sa og tarong, i-release on time ang honorarium kay ang mga tanod moingon nga suspend? What’s there to suspend?” she said.

Pesquera said she received reports that the monthly allowance of tanods had been delayed. Each tanod in Cebu City is receiving P4,000 monthly allowance.

Osmeña ordered the strict implementation of the curfew ordinance following reports that minors are being recruited by gangs in the barangays.

The mayor asked the tanods to ensure that City Ordinance 1786 otherwise known as the Curfew Ordinance of Cebu City is implemented to prevent formation of gangs. Under the ordinance, no minors are allowed to roam around the streets beyond 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.

Garganera said it is not right to suspend the allowance of the barangay tanods for they are doing their duties and responsibilities in their respective jurisdiction. But, Garganera said he supports the strict implementation of curfew.

“I cannot phatom nga iyahang gigukod, unya iya pa gyud gigutom. Let us give what is due to them, baga kaayo og naw’ng ingon ana ba,” he said.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said the barangay tanods deserve to get their monthly allowance.

“Kinsa may gusto motrabaho nga wala'y sweldo? When I work as HR for a long time then kibaw ka no masipyat lang mi og pipila ka oras nga wala ma-load sa banko sa ATM, ang yawyaw grabe gyud kaayo,” he said. (FREEMAN)