CEBU, Philippines — A Cebu City councilor has proposed an ordinance requiring all private and public establishments to provide courtesy seats to senior citizens, pregnant women or persons with a child aged not more than four, and persons with disability who will request a seat or chair to rest on while within or transacting within the premises of the establishments.
Sponsored by Councilor Raul Alcoseba, the measure entitled “Courtesy Seat on Demand Ordinance of Cebu City” was referred to the committee on laws, ordinances, and styling for review.
“In addition to priority seats, there is a need to provide additional access, safety, and comfort to the qualified individuals when they are transacting with businesses as well as in government offices in the different parts of Cebu City,” read the proposed ordinance.
The measure also aims to provide additional reprieve or comfort for senior citizens, pregnant women, those with a child not more than four years old, and PWD to reprieve themselves from having to stand while they are in or transacting within the establishment covered by the measure.
It also provides that private establishments include, but not limited to malls and its tenants, department stores, groceries, commercial complex and its tenants, pharmacies, boutiques, restaurants, restos, banks, among others.
Meanwhile, public establishments include national government offices, local government units and its department offices, including barangay halls and centers.
Covered establishments must provide courtesy seats to the specified individuals and are required to post notices of availability of such which shall read “COURTESY SEATS AVAILABLE, QUALIFIED PERSONS MAY REQUEST FROM ANY EMPLOYEE OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT” or as may be prescribed by the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
Qualified persons who may request for courtesy seats within the establishment should be provided with the seat in the area near the person requesting, provided he/she is within the premises of the establishment.
Violations may be penalized under the ordinance such as failure to post notices of available courtesy seats in the conspicuous places of covered establishments; failure to mark the seat with the words “Courtesy Seat”; failure to provide the requested courtesy seat with backrest; and providing a seat with no back rest.
Violation of the ordinance shall subject the owners, managers, and operators of private establishments, and heads of offices of government institutions to the penalties stated in the measure.
For first offense, they shall receive a written warning. For second offense, and third and succeeding offense are a fine of P3,000 and P5,000, respectively.
The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs Office (OSCA), Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS), and City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) shall conduct the random monitoring or inspection on the compliance of the ordinance.
Within 60 days from the effectivity of the measure, the CTO, OSCA, and DSWS shall provide for the IRR to carry out its provisions. —GMR (FREEMAN)