ILOILO City – A group of businessmen at Smallville and Boardwalk, two popular strips of bars, restaurants, discotheques, and hotels in Mandurriao district, plans to request Mayor Jose Espinosa III to permanently lift the 2 a.m. alcohol curfew.
Espinosa’s Executive Order (EO) 146-2017 issued in December 2017 prohibits the dispensation of alcoholic drinks past 2 a.m. It aims to avert a breakdown of peace and order at night and early morning mostly caused by inebriated people.
According to Smallville-Boardwalk Business Association, Inc. president Jim Velez, the peace and order situation in the two areas significantly improved already.
“Maybe because of the visibility of law enforcers sa lugar,” said Velez.
His association’s members were encouraged by Espinosa’s recent decision granting their request to temporarily suspend the alcohol curfew from Jan. 25 up to the early hours of Jan. 28 so they could serve better Dinagyang Festival revelers.
“Para waay kita limitasyon sa aton guests sa oras. Nagkadto sila diri para mag-enjoy so we have to entertain them,” said Velez.
Section 4 of EO 146-2017 actually exempts hotels/motels and resorts accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT), restaurants as well as convenience stores operating on a 24-hour basis provided they shall not dispense or allow customers to drink alcoholic beverages in their premises from 2 a.m. until 8 a.m. of the same day.
But according to Velez, their businesses were adversely affected by the alcohol curfew.
Many of their customers also wondered about this city government policy, he added.
Establishments covered by the EO are required to set a time for receiving last orders from customers so as to meet the 2 a.m. curfew.
The Smallville-Boardwalk Business Association, Inc. recognizes the legitimacy of the mayor’s concern on the peace and order situation in their area, according to Velez, thus they would be making a “counter offer” – all businesses in the area must have security guards.
“Ang dalanon sang Smallville iya ina sang police nga responsibility but kami nga mga establishments may ara kami dapat security guards to protect and secure our premises,” said Velez.
In recent years prior to the issuance of EO 146-2017, Smallville was frequently in the news for clashes among inebriated patrons, mostly youngsters.
When the EO was finally issued in December 2017, DOT Region 6 hailed it, saying peace and order were major tourist attractions, too.
Restaurants, bars and nightclubs serving alcohol may be adversely affected by this new policy but not the local tourism industry, according to DOT director Helen Catalbas.
Restaurants and hotels – which almost always have bars – are among the local tourism industry’s key players.
But tourists, be they domestic or foreign, come here not to primarily binge-drink until dawn, said Catalbas.
“They’re here to attend conventions, visit tourist spots, unwind in beaches or inland resorts, visit friends and relatives, etc. Here for only a few days, they know they have very limited time so indi gid na sila magpaaga inom,” she said.
Or if these tourists want to have a drink, they could always order in the hotels and resorts where they are billeted or buy outside and bring the drinks to their rooms, she added.
“We are pushing for a peaceful and orderly tourist destination,” said Catalbas. “We have always been consistent in saying nga peace and order is a major tourist attraction in Iloilo City.”
Violation of EO 146-2017 would entail administrative sanctions which include but is not limited to cancellation of business permits and/or closure of business establishment, or non-renewal of business permit for the subsequent year.
In issuing EO 146-2017, Espinosa cited the Dec. 3, 2017 fatal dawn shooting of a young man at Smallville.
The “unregulated dispensation” of intoxicating drinks results “in the improper and harmful conduct and behavior of consumers,” according to Espinosa.
In a previous interview, on the other hand, Catalbas said taxi drivers confirmed to her they have dealt with drunk passengers, mostly students (some even in their school uniforms), from Smallville.
One driver said “nag-throw up ang pasahero n’ya,” according to Catalbas, and he had a hard time getting rid of the foul smell in his taxi.
DOT Region 6 considers taxis and their drivers as tourism frontliners and has a training program for them./PN
