ILOILO — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has declared as legal and valid a Tubungan municipal ordinance that imposes penalties on individuals found topless or half-naked in public places, affirming the local government’s authority to regulate public conduct in the interest of order and decency.
The SP, during its 52nd regular session on Tuesday, adopted Committee Report No. 14-2026 declaring Municipal Ordinance No. 2026-05 of Tubungan, Iloilo valid under the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991.
Second District’s Board Member June Mondejar, chairperson of the Committee on Public Order and Security, presented the report before the provincial board.
“The Committee opines that the subject ordinance is consistent with Section 447 (a)(1)(ii), (iii), and (v) in relation to Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991,” part of Mondejar’s committee report read.
The ordinance, titled “Regulating the Act of Being Topless or Half Naked in Public Places in the Municipality of Tubungan, Iloilo,” penalizes any person found topless or half-naked in public areas within the municipality.
The measure applies to all persons within the territorial jurisdiction of Tubungan.
However, the ordinance provides several exemptions, including:
* Persons directly involved in or rendering assistance during emergencies;
* Visitors from indigenous communities wearing traditional ethnic attire;
* Individuals bathing in public swimming pools, rivers, or similar bodies of water;
* Participants engaged in sports or social activities that customarily require being topless; and
* Persons taking part in activities or events officially sanctioned by the local government unit of Tubungan.
With the Provincial Board’s declaration, the ordinance is now affirmed as consistent with existing law, allowing the municipality to enforce its provisions regulating public attire in designated public places./PN
