ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas plans to repeal Executive Order (EO) 146 of his predecessor, former mayor Jose Espinosa III, that prohibited establishments from dispensing alcoholic beverages beyond 2 a.m.
“We are a highly urbanized city, ginatulod ta pa nga mangin MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) destination. I don’t think it is proper for us to have that kind of curfew,” said Treñas.
In issuing EO 146 in December 2017, Espinosa said he wanted to avert a breakdown of peace and order at night and early morning mostly caused by inebriated people.
Two weeks before he came out with the EO, a young man was shot dead at Smallville Complex, a strip of bars, restaurants and hotels in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao district.
“I think Iloilo City is responsible enough to take care (of its peace and order situation) and serve alcoholic drinks beyond 2 a.m.,” said Treñas.
The new mayor, however, admitted he still has to discuss his plan with the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The ICPO previously attributed the decrease in crime volume here to various city ordinances such as the curfew for minors and EO 146.
“I will talk to the police. Can they assure us that they have the necessary personnel to maintain peace and order? If they have, I will immediately repeal that executive order,” said Treñas.
According to the mayor, he already started talking to bar operators and they were receptive of lifting the alcohol curfew.
Treñas stressed, though, that there should be guidelines that establishments dispensing liquor must follow.
“They are very happy. I am sure (doing away with the alcohol curfew) will boost to our tourism sector,” he said.
Under EO 146, an erring establishment’s business permit may be cancelled or not renewed.
Establishments covered by the EO – bars, nightclubs, restaurants – must set a time for receiving last orders from customers so as to meet the 2 a.m. curfew that stretches until 8 a.m.
The alcohol curfew exempts the following:
* hotels/motels
* Department of Tourism-accredited resorts
* restaurants, provided they shall not sell nor serve nor dispense nor allow customers to drink within their premises from 2 a.m. until 8 a.m. on the same day, and
* convenience stores operating on a 24-hour basis, provided that such convenience stores may sell but shall not serve nor allow its customers to drink within its premises from 2 a.m. until 8 a.m. of the same day.
The Department of Tourism – Region 6 supported EO 146.
“We are pushing for a peaceful and orderly tourist destination,” said Director Helen Catalbas in December 2017 when the curfew was imposed.
“We have always been consistent in saying nga peace and order is a major tourist attraction in Iloilo City,” she said./PN
