PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is welcome to visit Baguio City, but like all other visitors, he will be reminded of the recently approved Anti-Profanity Ordinance.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said he will remind the President, whose speeches are normally of the ordinance if ever he comes visiting the city.
“Just like any other visitor coming to the city, we would remind them of the existing ordinance on anti-profanity since there is no penal sanction. And I think it would help if we post the ordinance on anti-profanity,” Domogan said.
“It would only be in schools where administrative sanctions are observed. Hypothetically in the case of the President if he would be here in our city, we would remind him and any other visitor that there is an existing ordinance pertaining to anti profanity,” the mayor added.
The Baguio City Council approved on third and final reading an ordinance prohibiting profanity in schools, computer shops and other business establishments frequented by children, high school or college students in the city.
The measure, authored by Councilor Lilia Fariñas, defined profanity as blasphemous or obscene language, irregular or irreverent speech or action, expletive, oath, swearing, swearword, coarse, cussword, profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger.
“In line with our character city program and the protection on the rights of children, this ordinance have been passed. In public and private schools and places where children frequent like computer shops among others, it is our hope that profanity should not be practiced by the youth and instead, let us develop their character,” the mayor said.
The ordinance declared that cursing, cussing, expressing insults, whether directly or indirectly, to anyone or using profane and foul language as a means of expression, or as a manifestation of anger, surprise, disgust, or any other form of extreme emotion that yields to such expressions of profanity are prohibited in all schools in all levels, whether preschool, kindergarten, elementary, high school, college and universities and business establishments such as, but not limited to, computer shops and other places frequented by children and students in the city. (Jonathan Llanes)