Cebu City’s anti-vandalism ordinance still has no IRR nine months after its OK

CDN file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The  Anti-Vandalism Ordinance 2018 was passed by the Cebu City government in June 2018 yet the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) have yet to be set nine months later.

Councilor Joel Garganera, the proponent of the ordinance in the City Council, told CDN Digital (CDND) that the police are waiting for the IRR on the ordinance in order to fully implement it.

“Naghuwat atong police intawon unsaon nila pag-implement ang ordinance. (The police are waiting for the IRR on how they will implement the ordinance),” said Garganera.

Garganera said that there might be various reasons as to why the IRR had still not been drafted by the city’s executive department including the upcoming May 13 elections.

Read more: Garganera : Fines, jail term await vandals in Cebu City

He was referring to the campaign posters of candidates posted in walls such as those outside a protestant church in the city.

However, the ordinance only prohibits and penalizes defacement and destruction of any structure within the city using aerosol paints.

Violators of the law will be fined ranging from P3,000 to P5,000 or imprisonment of up to eight months. They will also be required to perform community service for 5 to 10 days to restore the damaged property.

On August 2018, Councilor Dave Tumulak, deputy mayor on police matters, said they would be releasing the IRR in the soonest possible time for the ordinance to be implemented.

However, the City Council has yet to approve an IRR from the city’s executive department.

Both the City Council and the mayor has to approve the IRR prior to its implementation.

“Hugaw na kaayo atong syudad. Naa pa ganiy basura, hugaw pa gyod ang mga bongbong. (Our city is already very dirty. Not only do we have uncollected garbage, we also have dirty walls),” said Garganera.

CDND tried to reach Tumulak, but he was not available for comment./dbs