Councilor Patrick Alex Hagedorn said he is confident that his proposed “Nightlife Decency Ordinance” will be approved by the City Council.
The ordinance seeks to ban the posting of indecent images of men and women in bars, clubs, restaurants, and other similar establishments in Puerto Princesa.
Hagedorn said that during a public hearing last week, bar owners did not object and instead expressed their support.
Some of them, he added, had already complied with the measure.
“Kung dadaan kayo ngayon doon sa may old airport ay makikita ninyo na medyo may damit na ‘yung mga babae doon [tarpaulin] at kahit papaano ay hindi na malaswa tingnan,” Hagedorn said.
“Hindi naman sila tumutol at sila naman ay sumuporta, so, i-schedule uli natin sa second and third public hearing and hopefully, maipasa natin sa council,” he added.
He clarified that the ordinance is not meant to suppress businesses in the city but to ensure that promotions are done in the proper way without negatively affecting society, especially children and youth.
Establishments may still display photos of their so-called “talents”, he explained, as part of their promotions to attract customers, but these should not expose sensitive parts of the body.
“Overly revealing attire na ‘yung alam nating pag nakita ng mga anak natin na matatanong at makikita ang ganung istura. Baka pangit tingnan sa lungsod kasi kung titingan mo pagpasok sa may capitol, welcome to Puerto Princesa, the City of the Living God tapos pag-abante mo ay mga picture ng pagkase-sexy na mga babae. Parang pangit tingnan at parang nino-normalize natin sa mga Kabataan,” he added.
In the next session, bar owners and the city government’s Joint Inspection Team (JIT) are expected to attend.
The JIT has been tasked to lead inspections and the enforcement of the ordinance once approved by the city council.
