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[av_heading heading=’Stop entrance fee, gambling at Jaro plaza – SP’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
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ILOILO City – As practiced yearly, the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) of Jaro transforms Jaro Plaza into a giant, noisy and smelly market of ukay-ukay, carinderia, videoke bars, and gambling joints for the Feb. 2 fiesta of Jaro district.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) found this practice questionable and wanted the ABC to stop this abuse and misuse of public space.
City councilors also wanted the collection of entrance fee at the Jaro Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair in Jaro Plaza stopped, and drinking, gambling and smoking thereat prohibited.
On top of these, they also pushed for the removal of sidewalk vendors from the sidewalks around Jaro 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 Office of the City Mayor annually gives authority to the association organize the Jaro Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair.
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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