Vice governor vows to push anti-obscenity ordinance

It will be a busy 2012 for the Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC) which will intensify its campaign against perpetrators of violence against women and children.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who co-chairs PWC, said that she would focus on the passage of her sponsored Anti-Obscenity Ordinance  and go after those who exploit children in cyberpornography.

She cited a recent police report about three boys who allegedly molested an 11-year-old girl in Naga City.

“This only indicates the need to reexamine our value system. It will help to monitor reading materials of children,” she told Cebu Daily News.

“Of course, as  a parallel course, availability and access to Internet must be looked into. We are still  studying now,” she added.

The proposed ordinance is up for second and third reading in the Provincial Board (PB).

A committee report was made in November but made no recommendation for a public hearing.

After several quarters in the Cebu news media cried foul over its first version as the  proposed Anti-Tabloid Ordinance, the PB revised the title and some of its provisions. Magpale considered the position paper of the Cebu Media Legal Aid (Cemla) during the committee hearings and some revisions were made.

The creation of a Provincial Anti-Obscenity Board is  provided in the ordinance to be headed by a chairperson appointed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Magpale said they have nobody in mind yet but  would prefer someone who isn’t in government service.

“We will continue to go after those involved in cyberpornography,” she said./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus