A LAWMAKER urged Davaoeños to report to authorities any incident of vandalism of public properties.
Councilor Jessica Bonguyan, the chairperson of the committee on public works and highways, raised alarm amid reports of vandalism on Davao City Interim Bus System bus stops and signage.
“I rise in a matter of personal and collective privilege to address the concern of vandalism in our city. This is not just about damaging property, it is about how we value what is meant for everyone,” Bonguyan said in her privilege during the regular session on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Public facilities and infrastructures, such as bus stops, signage, waiting sheds, sidewalks, and parks, she said, are funded by public resources and are entrusted to the care of every citizen.
The councilor urged the public to respect shared spaces and protect the infrastructure by reporting promptly to the Davao City Report hotline.
She cited Davao City Ordinance 03332-68, which is known as an Ordinance prohibiting defacing, scribbling, or riding on walls, public structures, or fences exposed to public view, with penalties for those who violate it.
Vandalism, she said, undermines a project designed for the public convenience and undermines the effort of those who work to make our streets, transportation services, and public spaces better for all.
“These properties are essential for order and mobility; damaging them slows progress and inconveniences the public,” she stressed.
The Anti-Vandalism Act of 2009 penalizes anyone caught committing acts of vandalism, in addition to paying for the restoration of damaged property
Violators will face a fine of P5,000 for the first offense; P8,000 for the second offense; and P10,000 for the third offense, along with imprisonment for not less than 30 days but not more than a year, depending on the severity of the violation.
