Lapu-Lapu Sanggunian seeks to control display of streamers

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City council has adopted an ordinance on first reading which seeks to regulate the hanging, displaying, and posting of streamers, tarpaulins, stickers, and any other advertising paraphernalia along city streets and public facilities in the city.

The proposed ordinance requires a cash bond and imposes penalties on violators.

Councilor Alexander Gestopa, Jr., who introduced the proposed ordinance, said the main roads and center of economic activities along the national and city roads have been perennial places of posting, displaying, and hanging streamers, tarpaulins, and other advertising paraphernalia which pose hazards and distraction to passersby.

He said streamers, tarpaulins, stickers, and other advertising paraphernalia that are posted, displayed, hanged, and left to deteriorate along city streets, public places, facilities, and avenues.

Section 7 of the proposed ordinance states that some requirements where the content of the streamer, tarpaulins, sticker and any other advertising paraphernalia should not be obscene and will not violate the basic principles of decency, spiritually and physically.

It further says that the requesting natural person or juridical persons must remove the advertising paraphernalia after the duration of the permit has elapsed.

A cash bond of P5 thousand must be deposited prior to the issuance of the permit.

Violators will be fined P1 thousand and all advertising paraphernalia by the offending natural person or persons upon receipt of notice of the violation will be removed.

A thousand pesos will be imposed per day thereafter until the violation is removed by offender.  (FREEMAN)