ILOILO City – Operators of business establishments dispensing alcoholic beverages finally met Mayor Jerry Treñas and a mutual decision was agreed: Executive Order 146 which imposed a 2 a.m. alcohol curfew would be revoked. But the operators must keep their side of the bargain: among others, no serving or selling of liquor to minors or their establishments would be automatically padlocked by the city government.
“We will observe a one-strike policy. 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,” Treñas stressed.
Business permits would be revoked or not renewed.
The other conditions Treñas is imposing on the operators are the following:
* they must have functioning security cameras
* their premises must be free from illegal drugs
* they must have security guards / bouncers
Treñas initially told reporters yesterday morning he would be issuing in the afternoon an EO revoking EO 146. As of this writing, however, none was released.
“I will revoke it. The police assured me they could handle the situation. We will conduct checkpoints if necessary,” said Treñas.
Treñas’ predecessor, then mayor Jose Espinosa III, issued EO 146 in December 2017 saying he wanted to avert a breakdown of peace and order at night and early morning mostly caused by inebriated people.
Before Espinosa came out with the EO, a young man was shot dead at Smallville Complex, a popular strip of bars, clubs, restaurants, and hotels in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao district.
According to Treñas, the group of bar operators who met him submitted a manifesto promising compliance to the agreed conditions and guidelines.
“Kon makit-an nila nga tam-an na sang inom ang customer, untatan na nila hatag,” said Treñas.
The mayor 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.
He, however, underscored that the revocation of EO 146 is without prejudice to President Rodrigo Duterte’s planned imposition of a midnight liquor ban like in Davao City.
Jim Velez, president of the Smallville-Boardwalk Business Association, Inc. said they would follow the guidelines.
“Ang pinakagrabe is the one-strike policy. Either ma-close ka or ang business permit mo will be revoked or not renewed,” said Velez.
But they are willing to take the risk because the alcohol curfew hit them hard. Velez said several of them suffered financial losses.
“We are very thankful that the mayor considered our plight. Talagang we are losing,” he said.
EO 146 actually listed exemptions from the 2 a.m. curfew. These were hotels/motels; Department of Tourism-accredited resorts and 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; andconvenience 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.
Treñas said the city government would be giving the Iloilo City Police Office additional patrol cars and police auxiliaries to help in the maintenance of the city’s peace and order situation.
The city government would also be hiring public plaza guards and tourist guards, added Treñas.
“Aton gina-require mga Criminology graduates or at least with two to three years schooling in Criminology para ma-train sang aton police,” said Treñas./PN
