ILOILO CITY – Councilor Johnny Young wants to penalize excessive public display of affection (PDA) after a viral video of a boy and girl passionately kissing in public in this city surfaced recently.
“We want to regulate that and avoid that type of incident in public,” Young told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Young expressed concern over what is deemed as socially improper behavior as chairperson of the Iloilo City Council Committee on Moral Recovery.
“Holding hands or a quick kiss is OK. But more than 30 seconds, that’s a different story,” Young said.
Young, a neophyte councilor, said that intimacy must only be shown in private spaces.
He said he will file an ordinance against too much PDA and use Section 200 of the Revised Penal Code as basis for the legality of the measure. “It’s defined as a grave scandal under the Revised Penal Code,” Young said.
Young plans to submit his proposal when the regular session of the Iloilo City Council resumes next week.
Once it is formally submitted, Young will hold dialogues with various stakeholders, including youth groups, religious groups, and the academe.