ILOILO – No smoking. No chewing gum. No vendors. These are just some of the dos and don’ts the provincial government enforced inside the Iloilo provincial capitol starting Wednesday.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. wants to maintain cleanliness and at the same the security in the area after the capitol’s redeveloped facade and Christmas lights decoration attracted a big crowd during its unveiling on Monday.
According to General Service Office (GSO) head Aaron Raymundo, they want to step up security measures to ensure the sustainability of the cleanliness and orderliness in the area.
The house rules don’t allow smoking, spitting, littering, and vendors inside the complex. But Raymundo said vendors are allowed to sell outside the capitol.
It also disallows bicycles and skateboards which could possibly harm other people while discouraging the public to step on the frog grass as it is still sensitive.
They were also told to avoid being near the fountain and the mural to preserve its designs.
Raymundo said the provincial government has planned to implement the “no food allowed” inside the capitol but he admitted it is difficult to stop people from doing so.
“Sa sulod tani no food allowed inside galing kay ti indi mo gid na mapunggan pero gina-remind sila nga ang putos kang ila mga plastics da ihaboy lang nila sa basurahan,” Raymundo added.
He had advised parents to watch out for their kids and to avoid them from being near electrical lines connected to the lights – saying that aside from entrance and exit guards, security officers were also hired to rove around and ensure safety among them.
Raymundo said they are aiming to buy additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) for the mural, adding the provincial government has procured a total of 24 CCTVs to monitor the area surrounding the capitol.
The GSO has allotted P800,000 for its procurement, he added.
The capitol lights are open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night but it will be lighted for a longer time when Christmas nears.
According to Raymundo, around 1,000 people – mostly students, employees and families – flock the capitol complex every night since the lights were opened to the public.
He said people are already getting used to it, as putting up lights in the capitol during the Christmas season has already become an annual tradition./PN