FLAG-RAISING ceremony at the CCPO. (FB)
CEBU CITY – More than 6,000 individuals were cited for violating various ordinances since the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) implemented the Safer Cities Initiative here.
Police Col. George Ylanan, chief of CCPO, said 6,656 individuals were caught violating local laws and 1,657 of them were fined between P500 and P1,000.
Due to the implementation of the initiative, the city will be able to collect P1,744,500 from fines imposed against violators, Ylanan said.
Ylanan said violations included drinking in public places, smoking in prohibited areas, roaming in public places shirtless, vandalism, and disregarding traffic laws.
Minors were also caught violating the curfew ordinance while some were cited for holding videoke sessions beyond the allowed time.
Rescued children were turned over to social workers, Ylanan said.
A project by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police, the initiative became controversial when a man in Mandaluyong City was fined for not wearing a shirt while mixing cement in front of his house.
To avoid similar incidents from happening in the city, Ylanan said Mayor Nestor Archival has instructed them to bring extra shirts that will be given to those who will be caught shirtless instead of issuing citation tickets.
While the initiative was criticized by some sectors, Ylanan defended its purpose.
Ylanan said the strict enforcement of the initiative will help instill discipline among residents and will also help promote peace and order due to increased police visibility.
The initiative will be a very big help in the campaign against improper garbage disposal, Ylanan said. He warned that people caught improperly disposing garbage will be apprehended.
Ylanan said failure to stop improper garbage disposal will lead to bigger problems like flooding.