OLONGAPO FIGHTS AGAINST VAGRANCY

The city government executes its authority to protect Olongapo’s public areas from vagrants, curfew violators and other offenders that carry out illicit activities at the city’s parks, streets, and plazas. This is in line with Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. aspiration to rehabilitate these public vicinities into Olongapo’s prime tourist and recreational areas.

Spearheaded by the Parks and Plazas Management Office (PPMO) in coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO), Office of Traffic Management and Public Safety (OTMPS), Public Affairs Office (PAO) and with Brgy. West Bajac-Bajac, the composite team conducted a saturation drive in the vicinity of Rizal Avenue and at the Rizal Triangle Park and Multi-Purpose Covered Court late night of August 22, 2009.

The said pursuit apprehended thirty-six (36) wrongdoers, twenty-three (23) of which are vagrants, six (6) parking attendants, five (5) curfew violators and two (2) mentally-challenged individuals who were brought to the Olongapo City Center for Youth wherein CSWDO counselors provided appropriate counseling sessions for the group while the minors were held in custody then brought to their homes the following morning.

Accordingly, Mayor Gordon Jr. tasked the City Livelihood Cooperative and Development Office (LCDO) to involve the apprehended adults on the said office’s numerous livelihood training seminars as provision for decent and beneficial source of living.

The said saturation drive is based on the mandates of R.A 9208 otherwise known as, “An Act to Institute Policies to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, Establishing the Necessary Institutional Mechanism for the Protection and Support of Trafficked Persons, Providing Penalties for its Violations, and for others”.

On the other hand, curfew violators are apprehended in connection with City Ordinance No. 22 Series of 1995 amended in 2002 that states that, “No minors below eighteen (18) years of age shall be allowed in streets and public places such as bars, restaurants, parks and playgrounds, amusement centers, beach resorts and similar establishments in the city of Olongapo during certain hours of the day as follows: a) Sundays to Thursdays – From 9:30 pm to 5:00 am of the following day; b) Fridays and Saturdays – From 11:00 pm to 5:00 am of the following day.”