Spitting and urinating just anytime and anywhere may no longer be a common sight in Cebu City as the city government strictly implements the ordinance against this, warning of citation tickets or worse, court trial.
The Cebu City Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (Ceset) has been issuing citation tickets to people doing any of these prohibited acts stated in the city’s environmental ordinances.
Last week alone, there were at least 50 cases recorded by Ceset.
“There is a strong implementation of these ordinances within the city through Ceset. This is to put discipline to our residents,” said City Legal Officer Jeron Castillo.
The City Legal Office has been processing affidavits from Ceset staff and other deputized officials on people who were caught violating these environmental ordinances for possible filing in court.
Castillo said after their office notarizes the affidavits, the Ceset may file the appropriate charges against the violators with the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.
“Violators should not take these citations lightly. It may be small but it can turn into a criminal case. If violators disregard their violations and don’t show up in court, the court can issue bench warrants against them, just like what happened to drivers who ignored Citom citations,” Castillo explained.
Under City Ordinance 1361, “it is unlawful for any person to spit, urinate or defecate on alleys, streets, sidewalks, pathways, parks, plazas or any public places or walls and corridors of buildings.” Throwing of garbage in these public paces is also prohibited as well as well as failure to clean one’s surroundings; failure to provide proper waste receptacles and posting of graffiti, posters and handbills, among others.
Violators may render community service or pay a compromise fee of P500. Those who neglect this will end up in court.
Aside from Ceset teams, barangay environment workers and other deputized individuals may issue citation tickets against violators.
Other laws that the Ceset enforces include the ordinance on segregation of garbage at source.