ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas has ordered the closure for five days of nine business establishments that violated the guidelines set in Executive Order (EO) 46 lifting the 2 a.m. alcohol curfew. It is a fulfillment of the “one-strike policy” he declared last month: “Pagbaton ko report sang violation, ipasira ko dayun.”
The closure order was issued yesterday. Part of it read: “Further, you are hereby directed to execute an Affidavit of Undertaking to comply with the deficiency on General Bar Guidelines (Section 3 of EO 46).
These nine establishments dispensing liquor are the following:
* Paraiso After 5 Disco Cafe and Restaurant Bar
* HQ Beercade
* Floyd’s Famous BBQ,
* Bull and Barrel Gastro Pub
* Juan’s Martha Foods Corp.
* Camp Jefferson Disco Pub
* Project Ex Sports Bar and Resto Bar
* Angel A Resto
* Sinukad GP Seafood Restaurant
They must secure a clearance/permit from the Business Processing and Licensing Office (BPLO) for the resumption of their operation after five days of closure.
According to Treñas, a repeat of their violations would “be severely sanctioned.” Their business permits would be revoked.
The nine establishments committed the following violations: serving alcoholic drinks to minors; allowing clients to smoke; no functioning security cameras; no security guards/bouncers; and not body frisking entering clients.
Friday evening last week, these establishments were issued with notices of closure and were given 72 hours to explain why they should not be punished for violating EO 46.
Treñas said the explanations of these establishments were carefully weighed by the composite team enforcing EO 46 and found to be bereft of merit, thus their penalty of closure for five days.
The composite team is composed of BPLO head Norman Tabud, Task Force on Morals and Values Formation chairman Nestor Canong, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office head Jeck Conlu, City Legal Office chief Atty. Edgardo Gil, and Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force executive director Iñigo Garingalao.
Treñas previously vowed to impose a “one-strike policy” on establishments dispensing liquor vis-à-vis his EO 46.
“Personnel of the city government’s permits and licensing division would be mobilized to monitor these establishments for compliance. Pagbaton ko report sang violation, ipasira ko dayun,” he said.
10 MORE FACE POSSIBLE CLOSURE
Ten more establishments dispensing liquor face possible closure after the composite team inspected them on Aug. 31.
The following establishments, all located in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao district, were found to have violated EO 46, too:
* Anthonette Talabahan – no security cameras, security guards/bouncers
* Saja – no security cameras, security guards/bouncers
* Chef Rich Resto – no business permit, security cameras, security guards/bouncers
* Bae – no business permit, no security cameras, security guards/bouncers
* Bay Point – no business permit, security cameras, security guards/bouncers
* Code White – no business permit, security cameras, security guards/bouncers
* El Amigo Stambayan – no business permit and security cameras
* Hide Out – no business permit and security cameras
* Deoso – no business permit and security cameras
* Payag – no business permit and security cameras
The other conditions Treñas is imposing are the following: body search / inspection of everyone entering; unruly customers shall no longer be served with alcoholic drinks; customers who are trouble-makers shall be blacklisted; illegal drugs not allowed; and no smoking.
Treñas said he wanted to do away with the alcohol curfew to further boost the tourism sector, stressing that he intends to step up the promotion of Iloilo City as a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) destination./PN
