Atienza approves Manila curfew

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza signed into law yesterday an ordinance that imposes a curfew for minors from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in all six districts of the nation’s capital.

Atienza said the curfew will cover persons 17 years old and below. It will be enforced 30 days from the signing.

"We’re giving ourselves 30 days to disseminate the information to the 897 barangays of the city and orient our constituents about the measure," the mayor said.

The City Council unanimously approved the ordinance last Sept. 5. The measure calls for the enforcement of a curfew seven days a week, including holidays.

Under the ordinance, authored by 6th district Councilor Julio Logarta Jr., individuals 17 years old and below are banned from roaming the streets of Manila for a period of six hours.

Minors who are with their parents or guardians are exempted from the curfew, while anyone wishes to go out in case of an emergency can secure certificates from their respective barangay chairmen.

Logarta originally proposed the curfew to be implemented from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. or about eight hours, but the City Council decided to shorten the time frame to six hours.

Though businesses might be slightly affected by the measure, the councilor said all views and concerns, from human rights to commercial interests were raised during public hearings in all six districts. All issues were addressed, he said.

In pushing for the curfew, Logarta took note of the reports of the Council’s committee on youth and sports development that the ordinance would help instill discipline, sense of propriety and moral responsibilities among the youth.

Aside from the fact that minors would be able to have enough sleep and rest needed to enhance their growth, the committee also reported that the curfew would also protect minors from lawless elements roaming the streets in the wee hours.

For the committee on justice and human rights, "the proposal comes at a time when there is strong public clamor for government to stop drug abuse."

In supporting the imposition of curfew, Councilor Don Bagatsing from the city’s 4th district cited surveys conducted in 276 cities in the US, where the implementation of a curfew has proven to be effective in curbing criminality.

According to the survey, 93 percent of respondents agreed that the nighttime curfew was useful to law enforcement and 83 percent of residents felt safer with one in place.