Cinemas asked: Play advocacy videos

CEBU, Philippines —  A Cebu City councilor is proposing an ordinance mandating all cinema operators to play a three-minute video advocating waste segregation and proper garbage disposal or anti-illegal drug before the start of the film.

Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. said video is an efficient instructional medium that is compelling and would generate great amount of interest from the viewers.

“The more interested and engaged the viewers are, the more they learn from and retain information from the video presentation,” reads a portion of the proposed measure.

The proposed title of the measure is the “Cebu City Video Advocacy Presentation in Cinemas within the Cebu City Jurisdiction.”

Gabuya referred his proposed measure to the City Council’s committee on laws, ordinances, and styling for its comments and recommendations.

The measure will be subjected to public hearing to hear the views and sentiments of the affected stakeholders before its final deliberation.

Cinema operators that will not follow the ordinance once approved will be penalized. Fees range from P1,000 to P5,000 and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

The City Treasurer’s Office will be the implementing agency of this ordinance.

Gabuya, chairperson of the council’s committee on public services, said Cebu City’s Department of Public Services and the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) are into massive campaign for waste segregation and proper garbage or waste disposal.

Also, he said the Cebu City Police Office and Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention are addressing the illegal drug problems in the city.  Once approved the measure would be implemented in all move houses in the city.

“To promote the general welfare, the cinema operator is required to show a three-minute video clip particularly defined under this ordinance which must be shown immediately prior to each and every showing of a full movie,” reads a portion of the proposed ordinance. — MBG (FREEMAN)