BAGUIO City officials just snapped the fun out of it.
An ordinance is now is now being worked out by the City Council banning Pokemon Go game inside government offices, churches, while crossing pedestrian lanes and driving a motor vehicle.
Vice-mayor Edison Bilog stated playing of Pokemon Go lures players to areas of significance like landmarks, government offices, schools and churches and even near pedestrian lanes, roads and streets but can affect the services and poses safety threats.
“Work at government offices are affected as players visit these offices not to transact business but to play the application while several government employees who are lured into the game has affected their productivity of government services,” Bilog said.
u2018Pokemon Go’ is free to play game in an augmented reality setting allowing each player to hunt, capture, train and engage pocket monsters in battles.
“It was observed that areas where players can find items or have battles are usually in areas with significant markers or important landmarks,” Bilog added.
The proposed ordinance which was passed on second reading identified pokemon stops in the city which include government offices, schools, churches, pedestrian lanes, roads and streets.
The Baguio City Cathedral has already banned Pokemon Go within the church as it disrupts religious worships.
“It is the responsibility of the local government to promote safety of its constituents and to preserve the comfort and convenience of its inhabitants,” Bilog explained.
Bilog added in order to ensure the effective and efficient service of government offices, solemnity of churches and places of worships, and safety of the pedestrians and drivers of motor vehicles, the city should prohibit playing of Pokemon Go or similar games in the stated circumstances.
Meanwhile, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has earlier stated his sentiment that no government employee is allowed play the game during work hour inside the City Hall.
“Ang sa akin, hindi talaga maganda yang paglalaro ng Pokemon Go sa public offices specially dito sa City Hall kasi naapektuhan ang ating trabaho kapag oras ng trabaho, trabaho lang talaga dapat wala ng iba,” Domogan stressed.
Those who will be found violating the proposed ordinance will be fined P500 to P1500.