A LOCAL legislator has drafted a measure penalizing owners who fail to dispose of the waste of their pets in public areas.
Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival titled his proposed ordinance “Pet Wastes Collection and Disposal Ordinance of the City of Cebu.”
The draft ordinance—pending before the committee on laws for review—stipulates a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense, P4,000 for the third offense, and P5,000 for the fourth and succeeding offenses.
If the violation is committed by corporations, associations or other juridical entities, the president, manager or the officer that allows the commission of such violation will be the one who will be held liable.
Section 5 of the proposed ordinance states: “It shall be prohibited for all pet owners to take or allow their pets to go outside their premises and let them sojourn with or without their owners in the sidewalks, streets, gutters, public places and in the neighborhood, and allowing their pets to excrete and leave the waste thereat without collecting and disposing of the same.”
The proposed measure covers all owners of pets or domesticated animals. It also does not matter if the owner is temporarily or permanently residing in Cebu City. It includes those who transit or enter the jurisdiction of the city.
The Cebu City Health Department and the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries are mandated to formulate the implementing rules and regulations once the proposed measure is approved by the Cebu City Council.
The Cebu City Transportation Office, the Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team and the deputized personnel from the barangays will implement the provisions once the measure is approved.
Archival said there is a need to keep and maintain a “balanced and healthy environment where humans and animals could simultaneously live comfortably.”
He said studies show that dog feces, aside from being a potential contaminator, is also a serious hazard as it contains microorganisms pathogenic to humans.
Once approved by the City Council, the measure will be implemented 15 days after publication in a newspaper of local circulation. (JJL)