By ALMA B. SINUMLAG
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Itogon Sangguniang Bayan (SB) passed an ordinance relative to the regulation of computer shops operations that engage in computer games in their municipality and providing penalties thereof.

The resolution of Itogon SB attached with the ordinance states that there is an observation that some of the clients of computer shops operating in their municipality are elementary and high school students. According to the resolution, these students most often play games on the computer shops during regular school hours rather than enriching themselves through the computers in an educational way.

Moreover, it also states that parents of the said students and concerned residents clamor that there is a need to regulate the operation of the said computer shops for the welfare of the students.

In the ordinance passed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), it said, “no computer shops shall be allowed to cater and allow rental of electronic video and computer games to persons under eighteen years of age during class hours and beyond 7:00 in the evening”.

Furthermore, the ordinance also requires every computer shop operator and owner to post a notice at the shop entrance. The notice will state what as quoted above in four inch fonts.

Violators will be penalized with a P1,500 fine and a 30-day suspension on the first offense. Second offense is a P2000 fine and a 60-day suspension of operations. The ordinance further states that if the violators will fail to pay the penalties, it will be a sufficient ground for the revocation of the permit. It will just be reissued upon payment of the required amount to the municipal treasurer. Lastly, third offense will be penalized by P2500 and a permanent closure of the business.

The Itogon SB then forwarded a copy of the ordinance to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) for it to be given a favorable review.

The committee on health and sanitation (which the ordinance was referred to) of the SP chaired by Board Member Florence Tingbaoen recommends that the ordinance of the Itogon SB be given a favorable review. # nordis.net