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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, January 24, 2017
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ILOILO City – The entrance fee being collected at the public plaza of Jaro district has no legal basis, according to City Administrator Hernado Galvez.
The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) of Jaro has closed the plaza for the annual Jaro Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair in line with the district fiesta this Feb. 2.
But according to Galvez, collecting fees not sanctioned by law or to impose or collect anything beyond what is allowed by law is illegal exaction, citing the Revised Penal Code.
“The imposition of fees must be via ordinance. All fees should be covered by a receipt. Fees not covered by receipts are considered illegal exaction…ang nagapanukot should be held liable,” said Galvez.
But who’s willing to file a complaint against the ABC?
“Ang problem sina kun waay gihapon sang magatindog,” said Galvez. “We need to pinpoint kon sin-o ang nagapanukot, sang san-o sya nanukot kag nga-a gapanukot sya.”
To the best of his recollection, said Galvez, the executive order issued was just for ABC-Jaro to manage Jaro Plaza. It was expressly prohibited to close the plaza, he stressed.
Jaro Plaza should be opened and the selling of liquor, gambling as well ukay-ukay thereat must be stopped, Galvez added.
Last week, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) urged ABC-Jaro to stop abusing and misusing Jaro Plaza starting with putting a stop to the collection of the entrance fee, the drinking, gambling and smoking thereat.
On top of these, the SP also pushed for the removal of sidewalk vendors from the sidewalks around the plaza.
According to the councilors, they wanted these moves included in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to be signed by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (on behalf of the city government) and ABC of Jaro.
The SP wanted the sidewalks outside of Jaro Plaza’s perimeter fence cleared of vendors because they deprive passersby a safe space to walk.
The terms in the original draft of the proposed MOA were as follows:
• The Jaro Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair which is to be organized, managed and maintained by ABC-Jaro will be held only in designated areas in Jaro Plaza to be limited and determined by the City;
• The plaza will be temporarily closed, subject to the approval of the Mayor, but the association should refrain from utilizing the playground and alleys inside the plaza as venue of activities and in no case, should such activities impede, impair, or obstruct the continuous flow of vehicles traversing the surrounding roads of the plaza
• The sale of alcoholic drinks or beverages, ukay-ukay and establishment of karaoke sound system are strictly prohibited, forbidden within the designated areas or vicinity;
• In consonance with the national government’s thrust for a clean and healthy nation, the ABC should strictly impose a gambling-free, smoke-free and illegal drug-free activity;
• The ABC must also ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of the entire venue and maintain and preserve all plants and facilities and other improvements made therein by the government; and
• The foregoing activity is limited only for a period of time./PN
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