A DRESS code might be up for Baguio City.
In a proposed ordinance by councilor Leandro Yangot, going half-naked in public places will be fined.
“This piece of legislation intends to uphold higher moral standards among the residents of the city and bring about an atmosphere of decency among the populace,” Yangot said.
The new law bans exhibitionism saying no individual can roam around the city naked or wearing apparel covering only the lowermost or uppermost part of the body with the absence of any top or bottom clothing, it is the duty and the responsibility of the of a parent or guardian to disallow or discipline their minor children to go naked or half naked in any public place within the city.
Even vendors in the city market and satellite markets are prohibited from wearing tattered clothes or going topless while vendors in the wet section and carinderia section should attire themselves with aprons.
“Decency, through proper wearing of garments gives an image of cleanliness that goes with proper grooming and personal hygiene. The fashion and youth paint to extinction of modesty, as modesty which is a virtue, is seen as being out of style or old fashioned. Going naked or half naked, on the streets ruin the interests of the city as the tourism mecca and educational capital of the North,” added the proposed ordinance
Yangot defined being half naked as wearing apparel covering only the lowermost or uppermost part of the body with the absence of any top or bottom clothing at roads, streets, sidewalks, parks, bridges, alleys and overpasses, churches, public dining areas, supermarkets and places where people gather for political, educational, religious, sports or entertainment purposes.
The proposed law explained year by year, summer season in Baguio City gets hotter and more humid, paving the way for “more skin, less clothing” bet it on public places such as parks and in the information superhighway. Going topless while sunbathing on most beaches is still acceptable but for a city surrounded by mountains, walking around naked or undressing in public where most people are dressed can lead to prosecution especially if another citizen is offended.
The Yangot law cites studies saying kids exposed to going topless resulted in a more liberal attitude towards sex and increased sexual frequency. In school teachers advise their students to refrain from wearing revealing clothing. As the youth develop, from universities to office fitness centers, they attract attention but are getting the wrong kind of it.
Drawbacks of nudity are also enumerated for men and women.
“Toplessness has serious drawbacks, aside from sunburn or cumbersome discomfort, men going shirtless in public gives the impression of being thugs; as women who are even scantily dressed, the public mistakes them for prostitutes, and else they invite themselves to harassment. On a wider context, the city aims to attract potential investors and support local businesses by fostering peaceful, decent and well-mannered citizens,” said the proposed law
Exceptions are given to nursing mothers, members of the Indigenous Peoples wearing ethnic attire on account of their traditions.
Artists and street performers within the standards of their trade that, the activity does not exceed the community standards of tolerance and the artists possesses special permits issued by the city government.
Other exemptions include victims of accidents who require immediate medical emergencies, water sports enthusiasts practicing or loitering in public swimming pools.
Penitents initiating penitential processions during the Lenten season, protesters on account of their school related tradition.
Porters carrying heavy amount of load for deliveries on rainy season and any person who is prevented from wearing his shirt and has to walk half naked in public places on account of any justifiable cause, unavoidable circumstance or accident is also exempted.
Fines range from a simple reprimand P1,000 and community service for violators.