TOM WANTS BAN ON SALE OF SPRAY PAINT

Osmeña cites need to minimize graffiti in city, wants to ban sale of spray paints

To reduce the presence of graffiti and vandals, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña wants to ban the sale of aerosol spray paint in the city.

In his news conference last Wednesday, the mayor said he has received several reports on the proliferation of graffiti and vandals around the city.

“We’re not trying to eliminate graffiti, but I hope it will be reduced because we have to go all the way up there. Daghan tang reklamo nga nadawat on vandalism, it’s so ugly,” he told reporters.

Osmeña, though, clarified that this does not mean people are prohibited from using the product.

“If you want to buy one, go buy it in Mandaue City, not here. We will not stop you from having one, but we’re banning it here because we feel that this is the major contributor to graffiti. We will not ban the use,” he added.

This, however, is not the first time plans to regulate or ban the sale of aerosol spray paint in the city were made.

Last February, Councilor Dave Tumulak expressed his intention to require consumers to secure a special permit from the City Office on Substance Abuse Prevention before buying the product.

Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters, said he will also add the sale of sealants and other volatile substances to the products that will be regulated in a proposed ordinance he will be filing before the City Council.

In an earlier report, the councilor said he has received reports of a store in the city selling solvent to minors who are involved in inhalant abuse. /