ILOILO City – A quick kiss, holding hands, hugging, and placing one’s arm on a partner’s shoulder are okay but excessive public display of affection (PDA) isn’t, according to Councilor Johnny Young.
The chairman of the committee on moral recovery of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) was reacting to a viral video of a girl locked in a torrid kiss with a boy in Mandurriao district.
Regulating PDA would “protect” youngsters, Young told Panay News.
“Makita sang mga kabataan basi masunod nila. Kalaw-ay nga example,” he stressed.
He will check if there are existing ordinances related to his proposal.
“Aton ina studyohan kag i-define kon ano gid ang ginatawag nga intimate kissing, malaswa nga public display of affection,” he said.
In Singapore, certain places or establishments are off-limits to PDA, Young pointed out.
“As a Catholic country, panan-aw sang aton mga katigulangan kalaw-ay ining klase nga ulobrahon sang aton kabataan sa karon,” he added.
The city councilor is also planning to pass a resolution calling concerned government offices to check on or investigate the compliance of beerhouses and nightclubs in the city on the Curfew for Minor ordinance.
The other day, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas issued a closure order against two night bars – Go Mart Bar & Convenience in Smallville Complex and Climaxx Bar & Grill in The Versteck Restobar Compound in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao – for violating Regulation Ordinance No. 2012-180 or the Liquor Ban For Minors, Regulation Ordinance No. 2011-676 or Curfew Hours for Minors, and Executive Order No. 46-2019 on General Bar Guidelines.
Treñas also signed Executive Order (EO) No. 49-A amending his previous EO that regulated the public sale and consumption of liquor and other alcoholic beverages in the city.
Under the new EO which will take effect today, Dec. 9, the sale and consumption of liquor in this southern city is until 12 midnight only following a night brawl involving customers and bouncers or a resto-bar over the weekend.
Under the amended EO, the city mayor revised the time of sale and consumption in public of any form of liquor or alcoholic beverages, or any alcoholic drinks containing a specific percentage of alcohol by volume or weight to 8 a.m. until 12 midnight only from the previous 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The city mayor stressed the need to amend the EO citing the prevalence of people loitering and bar fighting while under the influence of liquor./PN