BACOLOD CITY – The city government has formed a task force to strictly implement measures to curb vandalism here.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez issued an executive order on April 24 against vandalism that has been observed in different public and private areas in this city.
Benitez said that vandalism has an adverse effect on the quality of life in various communities here, creating an undesirable impression of disorder and lawlessness.
The damage caused by graffiti-related vandalism depreciates the value of the property it defaces and costs the city and affected property owners in clean-up expenses each year, he added.
The Task Force Vandalism headed by Benitez, with City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. as the vice chairperson, was directed to strictly implement City Ordinance 534 or the Anti-Vandalism Ordinance of 2011.
Members of the task force were the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSSD), City Tourism Office (CTO) and Public Information Office (PIO), and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Benitez said this city inspired by the values of cleanliness, health and wellness, and arts and culture aspires to become a community free of all forms of vandalism visible on its streets, public places, and open spaces.
Heightened police visibility was sought to monitor high risk areas prone to vandalism, deter potential offenders, and apprehend individuals caught in the act vandalizing property.
The executive order directed the DSSD to take charge in handling minors apprehended by the task force while all barangay officials were directed to implement curfew ordinance for minors to discourage and resist the presence of underage individuals in public places during specific hours, typically during late evening and early morning hours, when unsupervised, may pose risks to their safety and well-being.
All barangays were urged to conduct clean-up drives and repainting operations in partnership with various youth groups together with the police.
Police recently caught a 30-year-old Filipino-American and three minors for vandalizing walls in Barangays Villamonte and Felisa, respectively.
The BCPO offered a monetary reward to anyone who could provide information or photos of vandals in this city.