Daba cmte to look into complaint vs establishment selling vulcaseal to minors

THE City Council committee on social services chaired by Councilor Reuben R. Daba will soon convene to address the complaint against an establishment selling vulcaseal to minors.

According to the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), this is a violation of Section 41 of Ordinance No. 10536-2007, also known as Comprehensive Children’s Welfare Code of Cagayan de Oro City, which prohibits the sale of rugby to minors.

In his letter to the committee, Acting CSWD Officer Teddy Sabugaa said based on the recommendation of the City Legal Office it is prudent for the city government to first call the attention of the said establishment through Notice of Violation or warn them of their potential liability and closure under existing laws and ordinance.

According to the City Legal Office, the said ordinance only prohibits the selling of rugby, not vulcaseal. But if the particular vulcaseal brand has a chemical containing substance known as “toluene,” which causes addiction to users who habitually inhale the same since this is how the ordinance defined “rugby,” the owner of the establishment is liable.

The CSWD, thru its Reach out and Monitoring Team submitted to the committee its inspection report and the complaint of the father of a vulcaseal-sniffing minor.

Based on the report, a 14-year old youngster was caught in the act bringing a vulcaseal at the Cogon Market area. According to the minor, he was asked to buy the volatile substance by his friend at the said establishment in exchange for P30.

He admitted that the said hardware has been selling the substance not just to him but to other minors as well.

The father of the minor requested for the release of his son and promised to double his effort in monitoring his son. He also expressed his desire that the establishment be closed for selling the substance to minors. (JBD)