EDITORIAL - Safer cities initiative

As per the Safer Cities initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the following are now banned; drinking out in the open, being shirtless in public, minors loitering past 10 P.M., and singing videoke past 10 P.M.

Under the plan, the presence of policemen will be increased in high-density and high-risk areas, including schools, transport hubs, and major commercial zones.

“Nakikita po natin na mayorya ng krimen na nakikita natin ay sa mga urban areas. So, it’s time to make the people feel safer about where they live,” said DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

It’s about time. We are for enforcing the curfew on minors. Being out in the later hours exposes many of them to criminal elements or criminal activity. It also encourages the formation of gangs among youths who don’t get enough guidance or attention.

We are also for the enforcement of banning singing videoke past 10 P.M. Of course, establishments in urban areas that are specifically designed for this activity and with soundproofed rooms are exempt. We are sure the DILG meant this for residential areas.

People singing videoke into the night and disturbing their neighbors have long been the bane of residential areas. Double if the singer cannot carry a tune, which many people think they can but can’t.

As regards drinking in the open, it should be enforced. This has become a favorite pastime for many of us and the sight of friends and neighbors drinking by the side or the road is so common that we usually ignore it.

Remulla claims that drinking in public places leads to two things; fights and sexual harassment. While we don’t necessarily agree with this oversimplified view, we do think banning public drinking can lead to fewer drunken arguments and the violence that may result from them.

As for being shirtless in public, for us this is a gray area. Yes, someone without a shirt in public can be mistaken for a vagrant. But someone with no shirt isn’t necessarily someone bad or looking to do evil. And for laborers who have to work in the heat we are suffering nowadays, being shirtless is the more practical way to cool off.

We aren’t sure less shirtless men in the streets means a place will be safer.