Republic of the Philippines

Province of Pangasinan
CITY OF URDANETA
Office of the Sanguniang Bayan

A Proposed Ordinance authored by:

JRCB

LM

SMPO

BO

ICP

KMLP

RJDQ

MS

ORDINANCE NO.6969

AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING CATCALLING IN THE CITY OF URDANETA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

WHEREAS, the 1995 Anti-Sexual Harassment Act or the Republic Act 7877 declares that the
state shall value the dignity of every individual, guarantee full respect for human rights and
uphold their dignity.

WHEREAS, the City of Urdaneta recognizes the need to ensure the safety of its constituents
from all forms of harassment particularly catcalling, wolf whistling, cursing, stalking, and
demanding the name or cellphone number, directed to any particular person in public areas.
 WHEREAS, responsive rules and regulations are needed to effect the required mechanism that
will ensure the promotion and protection of the general public against undignified and/or
derogatory remarks, especially when directed with unwanted sexual implications.

WHEREAS, the City of Urdanetarecognizes that local governments must act with urgency to
denormalize the culture of sexually objectifying its constituents with immoral and unethical
insults and the culture of sexual harassment through catcalling with comprehensive control
measures.

WHEREAS, this ordinance will serve as a preventive measure against higher degrees of sexual
harassment such as groping, pedophilia, and rape.

THEREFORE, we conclude the necessity of this ordinance to effect the promotion and
protection of the general public against undignified and/or derogatory speech.

ARTICLE I.TITLE. This ordinance shall be known as “NO CATCALLING IN PUBLIC AREAS
OF URDANETA CITY PRESCRIBING PENALTIES IN VIOLATION THEREOF”

ARTICLE II.COVERAGE. This ordinance shall apply to all people who are caught in the act of
catcalling and/or reported with verified evidence in public areas.

ARTICLE III.DEFINITION OF TERMS. For the purpose of this ordinance, the term:
a.) Catcalling- the act of making unwanted comments/compliments towards surrounding
persons, typically women, with snide and/or sexual undertones.
b.) Prohibit-forbidden by authority with implemented penalties upon violation.
c.) Public Areas –sidewalks, alleyways, streets, highways, and any enclosed indoor area open to
and frequented by the public and where, during a representative 24-hour period the number of
public occupants exceeds the number of employees, except private residences.
d.) Required Mechanism- rules, regulations, penalties, and organized patrol systems to be carried
out by authorities such as the Public Safety Office, the PNP, the respective barangay officials,
and volunteers who have gone through seminar about catcalling and sexual harassment.
e.) Verified Evidence-thoroughly investigated testimonies and raw unedited footage of the act
committed.
f.) Sexual Harassment-uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature
by a person towards another.
g.) Derogatory Remarks- comments that emphasize on lowering its target’s self esteem and/or
self worth.
h.) Sexual Implications- suggestive undertones in comments or compliments that are unwanted
and deemed uncomfortable to the receiver.
i.) Sexual Objectification- the act of treating a person as a mere object of sexual desire without
regard to their personality or dignity, especially when communicated via verbal means.
j.) Seminar – a meeting in giving and discussing information about catcalling and sexual
harassment

ARTICLE IV.PROHIBITION. The following are deemed to be prohibited acts:

b.) persistent telling of offensive jokes such as green jokes or other analogous statements with
malicious undertones to another person

c.) taunting a person with constant talk about sex and sexual innuendos

d.) interrogating someone about sexual activities or their private life without consent

e.) making offensive hand and body gestures at someone

f.) repeated asking for dates to the point of harassment despite well communicated rejection

ARTICLE V. IMPLEMENTING AGENCY. The Public Safety Office together with the
Philippine National Police and respective barangay officials shall strictly implement this
ordinance. Before implementation, there will be posting of this ordinance in the
different conspicuous/strategic locations within the city of Urdaneta and will be published for
three consecutive days in the local newspapers for the public's information and guidance.

ARTICLE VI. SOURCES OF FUNDS. The funding for the implementation of this ordinance
shall be taken from the existing appropriation for local development fund as maybe approved by
the mayor. The collected fines imposed on the violations shall be accrued or allocate as General
Funds of the municipality to further achieve the objectives of envisioned in this ordinance.

ARTICLE VII.PENALTIES. The following penalties shall be imposed to those who have been
proven to have violated this ordinance;

1st offense- violator will be fined 500 pesos with seminar

(3 days, 5 hours each day)

3rd offense- violator will be fined 2000 pesos with seminar and 25 hours of community service

(5 days, 5 hours each day)

Succeeding offenses- violator will be fined 5,000 pesos with seminar and 50 hours of community
service (10 days, 5 hours each day). At this point the victim/s is thoroughly advised to file a case
against the habitual delinquent should they be targeted over and over again.

ARTICLE VIII. SEPARABILITY AND REPEALING CLAUSE. All City ordinances or part
hereof which are in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed. If any part or provision of
this ordinance shall be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

ARTICLE IX. EFFECTIVITY. This ordinance shall take effect seven (7) days after its approval
and upon publication in a newspaper of local circulation.