• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is committed to take active measures against the widespread proliferation of vandalism in the city through the creation of a task force, Atty. Caesar Distrito, the spokesperson of the mayor said on Tuesday.
Benitez is also directing the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to strictly implement the Anti-Vandalism Ordinance, Distrito, the incumbent barangay captain of Singcang and a former Bacolod councilor, who authored the ordinance, said.
He added that Mayor Benitez will create a Task Force Against Vandalism, composed of all the barangay captains, BCPO City Director, Police Chiefs of the 10 police stations, DSSD, DILG, POSO, BTAO and DPWH.
Data from the Department of Social Services and Development showed that many of the vandals are minors so the department is ordered “to take charge of the handling of the violators.”
The mayor also directed the barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan to strictly enforce the Curfew Ordinance for Minors.
The city government, he said, is looking at putting up Expression or Freedom Walls in different vacant areas of the city where the vandals “are free to express their emotions and opinions as a form of self-expression,” as provided in the ordinance.
Mayor Albee is suggesting to the BCPO to identify the gang/graffiti artists by meeting them, Distrito said.
He added that Mayor Albee is urging the different barangays to conduct clean up drives and repainting operations in partnership with various youth groups and gangs together with the police.*
