Lagawe mayor vows to curtail ‘freedom of spit’

BY DANIEL CODAMON

LAGAWE, Ifugao - The “freedom of spit” currently and widely enjoyed by many betel nut (moma) chewers here may not be for long as the young and no-nonsense mayor of this town vowed to curtail this liberty .

Mayor Ceasario Cabbigat Jr., the youngest ever to become mayor of this capital town said tolerance against this freedom has already reached its limit so control must be done before it goes out of bound.

This he said is part of his project under the “clean and green program” and also to have a sustainable, maintainable and sanitary environment.

In 1998, an ordinance was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan prohibiting betel nut chewers from spitting anywhere and providing a penalty.

The ordinance was intended to forestall the growing menace of unsanitary practice of betel nut chewers who indiscriminately spit the red sputum anywhere and in public places.

Betel nut chewing has already addicted a sizeable number of the Ifugao population including those in private and government offices thus controlling their liberty to spit anywhere is somewhat difficult, according to officials who are averse to the practice.

After enactment of the ordinance, blatant and mocking violations were reportedly observed at the capitol buildings, public markets and offices, parking and waiting areas of public utility vehicles and everywhere in the different municipalities of the province.

It continues to be nuisance to the public as even passengers in public utility vehicles spit through the windows as the vehicle is in motion.

Cabbigat, who served as councilor then vice mayor, narrated these observations making him conclude that the ordinance was only a white elephant and a paper tiger that he promised to make it alive and ready to bite.

The strict and effective implementation of the “no spitting anywhere” policy against betel nut chewers would be a test of Cabbigat’s political will, observers said.