Senate bill seeks ban on bathing, washing of clothes in public places

MANILA, Philippines — Bathing, washing and hanging of clothes and holding picnics in public places will no longer be allowed when a bill prohibiting such acts is passed in the Senate.

Senator Manny Villar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The proposal was contained in Senate Bill 2966 also known as “An act regulating the use of sidewalks for commercial and other purposes” filed by Senator Manny Villar.

Under the bill, the use of streets, sidewalks, avenues, alleys, bridges, parks and other public places for commercial and personal purposes would be strictly prohibited.

The prohibited acts in public places include doing house chores such as washing and hanging of clothes and bathing in public areas; holding picnics or gatherings, drinking liqour and beverages, dumping
of garbage; vehicle garage or repair, use of sidewalk to install pens of animals or keep animals in chains,installation of permanent or picket fence, and use of sidealks for plants, trees and plant boxes.

Also prohibited are selling of foods, magazines, newspapers, cigarettes, brooms, watches or jewelries, shoes and other footwear, and/ or any other items; conduct of shoe-shine accupation; dumping of garbage; setting up of basketball court or goal; signs or signboards on or above sidewaks and detached from theb establishment, and house extension or stall/store extension including installation of roofs and
awnings, among others.

The bill though allows the use of sidewalks only for community-wide special occasions or sales promotions days, and civic or charitable purposes.

“The use of sidealks and the displays or sale of merchandise under this section must be of a non-permanent nature and must be neat and orderly,” it said.

A fine of P1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both will be imposed against those who would violate the proposed law.

In filing the bill, Villar noted that said public places were not properly used by road users anf the public “due to the practices of some individuals who use these areas for displaying and selling their goods as well as utilizing the same in erecting structures for commercial and advertising purposes.”

“It is therefore necessary to clear all illegal structures and obstructions on or along those places in order to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and provide for a safe and convenient movement of goods and people,” Villar said in his explanatory note of the bill.