WHEN we first learned of the plan of Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to repeal Iloilo City’s Executive Order No. 146 that imposed a curfew at Smallville where many restaurants and nightspots are found, our reaction in our column of July 9 2019 was “Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke!”
But Mayor Treñas went ahead to repeal the ordinance and this brought a deluge of problems to peace and order in violation of the new Executive Order No. 46 that he issued to lift the curfew.
Consequently, on Sept. 3 he had to issue closure orders for nine establishments dispensing liquor and found violating his Executive Order. They were as follows: 1) Paraiso After 5 Disco Café; 2) HQ Beercade; 3) Floyd’s Famous BBQ; 4) Bull and Barrel Gastro Pub; 5) Juan’s Martha Food Corp. 6) Camp Jefferson Disco Pub; 7) Project Ex Sports Bar and Resto; 8) Angel A Resto; and 9) Sinukad GP Seafood Restaurant.
The above establishments must now secure a clearance or new permit from the Business Permit and Licensing Office so they can resume operation after five days of closure.
The establishments committed any of these violations: serving alcoholic drinks to minors; allowing clients to smoke; no functioning security cameras; no security guards/bouncers; and not body frisking of entering clients.
We remember that one of the reasons why the city revoked Executive Order No. 146 that prohibited night establishments from dispensing intoxicating drinks or liquor beyond 2 a.m. was to attract tourists. As it turned out, with its repeal and issuance of a new ordinance identified as Executive Order No. 46, it created more problems and we wonder if it accomplished the purpose.
There were no violations when Executive Order No. 146 was in force and peace and order was maintained at Smalllville. With the chaos and disorder that is happening at Smallville because of the lifting of the alcohol curfew, now we ask where are the tourists expected to come?
With apologies to our good city mayor for his honest intention to bring in more tourists, by lifting the curfew he will find out that the first nine establishments he ordered closed at Smallville will not only be the first group of violators; he can expect more reports of violations in the days to come.
This was not happening before when Executive Order No. 146 was in force. Maybe Mayor Treñas can even improve on the ordinance by moving the curfew to 12 midnight, similar to what they have in Davao, with an allowance of 30 minutes for people to reach home or the place where they will spend the night. Well, people can still travel coming from other functions but not from drinking places.
We reiterate our stand that a curfew must be imposed by authorities at Smallville or other areas in the city with restaurants or bars serving intoxicating drinks. Their restaurants, however, can remain open up to the next day, if desired.
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GEM OF THOUGHT
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