City Mayor Pablo C. Ortega said here recently that the imposition of a city ordinance barring minors, below 18 years old from loitering and roaming around, from 10 PM to 4 AM is not a punishment but rather to protect them from bad elements.
“This is a part of strengthening the Peace and Order and Public Safety Program of the city government,” the Mayor said, “we just want them in safe hands,” he added.
“There is already a city ordinance, approved by the provincial government so it also applies to the whole province,” Francisco “Kit” Ortega, Jr., senior city councilor, who attended the 1st La Union Provincial Command Conference in his capacity as an ex-officio provincial board member, added.
City Ordinance 2002010 states that “minors, aged below 18 are prohibited from roaming and loitering within the territorial jurisdiction of the city from 10 PM to 4 AM without justifiable reason and providing penalty of the violation thereof”
“In short, they are only placed through protective custody during those specific hours” and clarified further that they are not under arrest like criminals when caught without any reason late at night.
“This is to take them out of the harm’s way as it is not punitive but more than rehabilitative,” he explained.
The provincial government, according to him, is also taking steps such as consulting further with every municipality in La Union, through its officials, religious sectors, police, teachers and even the Parents-Teachers Community Associations to gather more support and coordination for its province-wide implementation.
According to Councilor Ortega, this is to address numerous complaints from parents and educators in the province who needed disciplinary actions imposed on their children and students respectively.
Mayor Ortega, likewise, added that barangays can also take them into custody and will be released as soon as their parents fetch them.
“This is only implemented from Monday to Thursday, usually during schooldays, they can have fun on weekends,” he said.
The Mayor added that it is the right of children to play but they should also learn how to go home early for school tomorrow.
Only minors who are accompanied by their parents or elders who are in emergency situations are exempted from the ordinance violation. Also exempted are those minors who are traveling in or from the city; involved in school-related activities; or in recreational activities sponsored by the schools; and other emergency-related incidents.
Also exempted from the rule are minors who were issued a pass from their local executives in the involved area.
“Initially, they are given warnings,” the Councilor said and added that the children, who are the principal recipients of the said ordinance will render a corresponding community service as a penalty if they cannot pay the stipulated fee and not the parents, in that way they will learn how to be responsible.
The police and barangay tanods were deputized to strictly implement the ordinance. Peace and Order is a priority program of the city and provincial governments under a drive initiated by Gov. Manuel Ortega. |
