STREET performances will be regulated under a proposed ordinance in Baguio City.
In an effort to balance artistic freedom with city laws, a hearing on the proposed busking ordinance will be scheduled by the city council.
The city council debated on the merits and procedure of buskers in the city pointing to groups which conduct the activity to display talent and those who make a living out of it.
Baguio City Councilor Leandro Yangot's proposed busking ordinance, which has been passed on first reading, drew mixed reactions from the community.
Some welcomed the proposed regulations while others nixed the law altogether.
Yangot's proposed law aims to regulate busking or the act of performing in public places for gratuities.
If passed, artists would be required to secure a permit with a corresponding fee of P350 a year.
Aldermen pointed to the fee as anti-poor and deliberated on scrapping it to give way to artists to freely share talent on the streets but faced the dilemma of having some sectors abuse the freedom.
During the council meeting, invited to represent the busking community was Maricar Docyogen of Bookends who attested to be an organizer of buskers in the city.
Docyogen said buskers do not ask for fees to be given to them but welcome tokens of gratitude in the form of gifts and money while performing.
She added an area for busking will also be ideal in the Central Business District for maximum exposure for the performing artists.
Docyogen said buskers are willing to submit to the guidelines that the city council will set as long as a dialog will be conducted with the artists.
The Yangot ordinance proposes the creation of a street performance committee to oversee buskers.
Once the permit is given, the performer will have to clearly display his permit while performing, to avoid being stopped by authorities.
The committee will also review performances for appropriate content before issuance of permits.
Performers will be prohibited from setting up at roadways, sidewalks, crosswalks, driveways, stairways, curb cuts, handicapped access ramps nor block access to buildings, parks, public conveyances, businesses, crosswalks, traffic control poles containing pedestrian crosswalks.
Provisions on sound level, distance from other performers will also be set so as not to disturb, obstruct or overpower other performers in the designated area.
