Cebu City Council decides to refer vetoed ordinance to committee on laws first

THE ordinance banning corporal punishment in Cebu City will not be implemented yet.

This, after the City Council has decided not to override just yet Mayor Michael Rama’s veto on the Cebu City Ordinance Promoting Positive and Non-Violent Discipline of Children.

During the council’s regular session last week, the legislative body has referred Rama’s veto to the council’s committee on laws as well as to the Cebu City Women’s and Family Affairs Commission, and to the Cebu City Commission for the Welfare and Protection of Children for report and recommendations.

Councilor Lea Japson, one of the four proponents of the ordinance, said they will wait for the report before they will override the veto.

“And until such time na di pa namo ma-override, the ordinance will not be implemented yet,” the councilor, who chairs the council’s committee on family and women, said.

No timeframe

Under the law, Japson said the council is not given a time frame to override a veto of a local chief executive.

It was last week when Rama vetoed the ordinance authored by Japson, City Councilors Alvin Dizon, Margarita Osmeña, and John Philip Po II.

In his veto message, Rama said the measure cannot be considered valid as it is not “just, fair, non-oppressive and non-confiscatory.”

The mayor also reiterated that the ordinance is anti-poor, as it carries a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months or both, upon the discretion of the court. He added that the City Government is not ready to implement it.

Asked if the implementation of the ordinance will not be affected considering that it doesn’t have the support of City Hall’s executive department, Japson doesn’t believe so.

She said there are several ordinances in the City whose implementation is overseen by her committee.

Unlawful

Under the ordinance banning corporal punishment, it states that it is unlawful for parents, teachers, nannies, housemaids and caregivers, foster parents, relatives and guardians to beat, kick, hit and slap a child.

It is also unlawful for them to verbally assault a child, threaten or intimidate them, verbally abuse them, as well as scolding, yelling, swearing and ridiculing or degrading them.

The ordinance was passed by the council on June 27 this year.