ILOILO City – The sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks here are now only until midnight.
“The Iloilo City Task Force on Morals and Values Formation (TFMVF) recommended the reimposition of the (midnight) liquor ban…to obviate incidents which transgress (the) maintenance of peace and order in the city,” according to Mayor Jerry Treñas in Executive Order (EO) No. 092 that he issued on July 27.
The unregulated dispensation of intoxicating drinks in bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and similar establishments even during the wee hours of the morning, he said, result to harmful behavior and criminal activities.
TFMVF head Nestor Canong said the midnight ban was agreed by the members of the Iloilo Bar Owners Association (BOA) during a recent meeting with Treñas, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director Colonel Joeresty Coronica and Mandurriao police station chief Captain Val Allan Cambel.
Since the month of May until July, several incidents have been recorded in bars especially during the wee hours of the morning and even involved bouncers.
He, however, clarified that the operation of restobars is not affected as they can still accept customers and serve food until morning.
Canong further explained that the residents themselves are complaining and sending messages to the city mayor because of night brawls that affect their peace.
He also noted that many visitors are coming to Iloilo City always because of meetings and conventions and they should not be bothered by the said incidents.
Meantime, across all settings, the EO emphasized that the sale and consumption shall be subject to existing restrictions as imposed by local ordinances such as the “Liquor Ban for Minors.”
On the part of the ICPO, Coronica vowed to strictly monitor and provide necessary police visibility to ensure the peace and order in the city.
The TFMVF is tasked to take the lead in the conduct of regular random inspections to ensure proper compliance of the said business establishments.
The taskforce will submit regular reports to the city mayor recommending proper measures to be taken against non-compliant establishments/operators./PN
