A public hearing has been set by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan this Aug. 30, 2024 on three proposed ordinances, including one that would require hotels and resorts to provide rescue equipment and trained personnel within their premises.
According to Provincial Board Member Dr. Santos V. Zafe, chairman of the Committee on Public Information, the hearing on the draft measures will be held at the SP session hall at the Legislative Building starting at 9 AM of said date, to be attended by representatives of establishments, local government units and other stakeholders.
One is the ordinance proposed by PBM Jose Romeo R. Francisco that would require all hotels and resort owners in the province to provide rescue equipment with trained personnel in their respective establishments.
Among the required equipment are life vests and lifebuoys, first-aid kits, emergency oxygen kits, rescue boards, emergency alarms and communication devices, fire extinguishers, and any additional equipment deemed necessary by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) or the Municipal DRRMO to ensure compliance with the ordinance.
It will also require that hotel and resort staff undergo regular training on the proper use of the rescue equipment and emergency response procedures.
Violation of the provisions of the ordinance would mean a fine of P5,000 on the owner or operator of the establishment, with its operation to be halted until it complies with the equipment requirements.
On the other hand, PBM Edwin T. Tanael has proposed an amendment to the Fishery Ordinance that would include other law enforcement agencies and update fees and impositions.
Section 6 of Provincial Ordinance No. 008-2014 will be modified to provide that the registration of fishing vessels three (3) gross tons and below would be devolved to municipal governments, subject to a uniform fee of P100 for non-motorized boats and P200 for motorized boats.
Section 8 of the same ordinance on permit fees for the transport of fish and other fish products will also be amended to reflect higher rates: P25 to P50 per 50-kg. shipment of preserved fish products; P100 per 100-kg shipment of dried seaweeds; and P50 to P100 per 50-kg shipment of crabs, lobster or shrimp.
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Provincial Federation President and ex-officio PBM Fred Benedict T. Gianan is pushing for the adoption of a local ordinance that would supplement and reinforce the provision of Republic Act or the “Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.”
Saying that it is the duty of the provincial government to address and combat the spread of OSAEC materials, he emphasized that the local ordinance would prohibit the accessing, possession, producing, distributing or profiting from images and videos of child sexual abuse.
It would also make illegal the grooming of children for sexual purposes, developing a relationship with a child to enable online or offline sexual exploitation, coercing and blackmailing children for sexual purposes, live-streaming sexual abuse of children as well as other acts prohibited under RA 11930 and RA 11862 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.
Under the measure, all owners and operators of malls and other business establishments shall notify the police or the National Bureau of Investigation within 48 hours upon obtaining facts and circumstances that child sexual abuse or exploitation is being committed in their premises.
It likewise provides that the public display of any form of child sexual abuse or exploitation within their premises is conclusive presumption of the knowledge of the business operators or lessors of the violation.
The provincial local government unit will also be given the authority to monitor and regulate the operation of internet cafes or kiosks to prevent any violation of the ordinance, with their staff, as well as that of remittance centers, to undergo a seminar on OSAEC as a requirement prior to issuance of business permit.
On the other hand, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) is tasked to ensure that the victim of child sexual abuse and exploitation is provided appropriate care, custody and support towards recovery and reintegration.
The services would include alternative family-based care, counselling, free legal services, medical and/or psychological services, livelihood and skills training, educational assistance, other support services and emergency shelter.
The proposed ordinance also calls for the establishment of a Local Child Protection and Response Center that would serve as a refuge for child victims and include a Video In-Dept Interview (VIDI) room for the proper assessment of the victim and to support the prosecution of OSAEC cases.