NAGA CITY --- An ordinance prescribing rules for junk shop operations in this city, and penalizing violations thereof, has been approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod during its 31st regular session last August 12, 2008.

        The ordinance covers all junk shops, including street-level ambulant junk buyers/pickers and junk dealers coming from outside the city.

        Authored by City Councilor Nathan Sergio, the ordinance is aimed at regulating junk shop operations in accordance with the city’s existing zoning, health, safety and environmental laws and regulations. It is one of the priority legislative measures being sought by City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo from the City Council.

        It is hoped that this Ordinance, according to Councilor Sergio, will effectively check the rampant stealing of materials that oftentimes end in junk shops. He said: “In this ordinance, focus is made on “select materials” that need to be regulated or monitored, like “public utility materials” (any material made of copper, brass, bronze or aluminum, being used by public utility companies, whether government-owned or private, to provide or deliver telecommunication system, power and water supply), “transportation materials” (all materials used in the railway operations, whether part of its communication line or part of railway track; also includes all other parts of vehicle, of any type or make, whether public or private), “public safety materials” (all materials intended or designated to provide safety or directions to people, which include street signages/markers, drainage covers, street lighting materials and the likes) and other metallic materials (all those metallic materials originating from historic sites, public places and cemeteries, which include historical markers, building or plaza markers, tomb or mausoleum signages or markers, fences or railings).

        Among the salient features of the ordinance, are: (1) the obligatory recording of acquired and disposed “select materials” and their separate stockpiling by the junkshop operator; (2) the required coordination/notice to law enforcers in case of transport “select materials”; (3) the regular monitoring only by duly authorized law enforcers; (4) the procedure and requirements for securing Business Permit; (5) the required registration even of ambulant junk buyers/pickers and of junk dealers from outside the city; (5) the protection of the rights of junk shop owners/operators and their preference during bidding; (7) the grant of incentives to informants and law enforcers; and (8) the regulations as to location of junk shops.

        The same ordinance took more than a year to finalize. From its filing on August 2, 2007 and until the committee on Laws and Ordinances has recommended its final copy on August 5, 2008, there were altogether eleven committee hearings and consultation meetings undertaken. Among those exhaustively consulted were members of the Junk Shop Association in Naga City, the PNP and Public Safety Office and the other concerned offices of the City Hall.