Designated walls for graffiti pushed

CEBU – If you can’t beat them, build them a wall.

As one way of getting rid of unsightly graffiti and vandalism in the streets, Prof. Ester Velasquez, one of the members of the Regional Peace and Order Council-7 and Cebu Normal University president, suggested designating billboards and walls in public places for “graffiti artists” to work on.  

Velasquez, in her study “Sororities and Fraternities: Status, Perception and Prospects”, reported to the council that spray painting, vandalism and writings on walls are attributed to some fraternities.

“They are the ones who painted in the walls,” Velasquez said, adding that they just do it as an art and expression.

With these developments, Velasquez suggested that “graffiti walls or billboards” be designated for them where they can express their feelings through their art.

She also suggested a contest for graffiti walls with the best artistic design can also be held.

However, RPOC co-chairperson Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos, who is the regional director of PNP Central Visayas, said the matter should be brought up with some sectors.

“We could give that information to the business sector for that innovative and creative idea,” Roderos said, adding the matter will be discussed in the next RPOC meeting.

Zosima Pañares, the research director of CNU, reported that there are 23 active fraternities in Central Visayas and some of them have as much as 50,000 members.

In a survey conducted inside the schools and colleges with 1,000 profile respondents, the Cebu schools have the most number of students with 93 while Siquijor reported none. Cebu was followed by Bohol, 47, and Negros Oriental, 2.

Cebu also had 392 who did not join the fraternities; Siquijor, 137; Negros Oriental, 97; and Bohol, 84.

In the college level, most of the members belong to Computer and Accountancy courses with 85.86 percent or 85 members. This was followed by Engineering, 22.54 percent or 32; Nursing and HRM with 5.63 percent or eight; Education with 2.82 percent or four and Political Science with 2.11 percent or three.

According to Pañares, 67.3 percent of the respondents said that they joined fraternities for companionship and friendship while 59.6 percent that they do not like to join fraternities.

Pañares said that some non-fraternity members perceived fraternities as non-violent and good organizations. However, some fraternity members consider fraternities as violent and sources of conflict. — Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)