Mayor signs anti - profanity measure

City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has ratified a City Council ordinance authored by Councilor Lilia Fariñas, instituting an Anti-Profanity Ordinance in all schools, computer shops, arcades and other business establishments frequented by children, high school and/or college students in the city.

Ordinance number 118, series of 2018, declares it a city government policy that all schools, in all levels, and those providing technical and vocational education and training, and business establishments frequented by pre-school and grade school children, high school and college students in the city, are prohibited from cursing, cussing, expressing insults, whether directly or indirectly to anyone or using profane and/or foul language as a means of expression, anger, surprise, disgust or any other form of extreme emotion.

The measure defines profanity as blasphemous or obscene language; vulgar or irreverent speech or action; expletive, oath, swearing, cursing or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger. Anti-profanity, meanwhile, is the act or measure to counter and prohibit the practice of profanity or use of obscene language.

It gives teachers, principals, school administrators, and assigned class officers to monitor students who curse or use profane language, and institute class and school policies to prevent this practice by consistently apprehending violators, and if persistent, shall employ graduating consequences for every violation thereof.

The penalty of expulsion for violation of the Anti-Profanity Ordinance shall be the school’s prerogative.

Business establishments mentioned in the ordinance are obligated to hang or post signs and signages in their premises to announce the measure’s observance.