Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Wednesday, April 24, created a taskforce to combat the rising cases of vandalism in Bacolod City.
The taskforce, created by virtue of Executive Order No. 25, Series of 2024, is tasked to enforce Bacolod’s Anti-Vandalism Ordinance of 2011 that imposes penalties on violators.
The ordinance defines vandalism as the willful acts that damage or deface the property belonging to another person or to the public. This includes writing, drawing, printing, marking or inscribing on any public or private property any word, slogan, caricature, drawing mark or symbol.
Posting or displaying on public or private property any advertisement, bill or notice, without consent of the owner is also considered vandalism.
Benitez, in his EO, said vandalism has an adverse effect on the quality of life of communities as it creates an undesirable impression of disorder and lawlessness in the city.
Bacolod inspired by the values of cleanliness, health and wellness and arts and culture, aspires to become a community free of all forms of vandalism visible along its streets, public places and open spaces, he said.
Benitez said heightened police visibility is encouraged, in order to monitor high-risk areas prone to vandalism, deter potential offenders, and apprehend individuals caught in the act of vandalizing property.
The Department of Social Services and Development is also directed to take charge of handling the minors that may be apprehended by the taskforce, he said.
All Barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan officials are directed to also implement the Curfew Ordinance for Minors to discourage or restrict the presence of underage individuals in public places during specific hours, typically during late evening and early morning hours when unsupervised activities may pose risks to their safety and well-being, Benitez said.
He said all barangays are urged to conduct clean up drives and repainting operations in partnership with various youth groups and gangs together with the police.
The Department of Education is also enjoined to adopt measures to mitigate incidence of vandalism in schools and to conduct dialogs with parents and students on the negative effects of acts of vandalism, Benitez said.*