CALAMBA CITY, Laguna- The city government has closed the operations of 38 establishments for three days for violating the city ordinance on liquor ban and slapped 31 other establishments with fines for breach of the videoke ban ordinance.
Jeffrey Rodriguez, officer-in-charge of the city’s Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), said they closed the 38 establishments for three days and meted fines against six individuals in violation of City Ordinance No. 591 , which bans the sale and drinking of liquors in public places from 12 midnight until 8 a.m. the following day.
“We have already closed 38 establishments for a period of three days as penalty for first time violation of the liquor ban ordinance and six individuals were ordered to pay PHP 3,000 each as first time violators of the same ordinance,” Rodriguez told a media conference.
He said POSO team rounded up the areas and issued violation tickets to city ordinance offenders for them to pay the penalty if the violation comes with fines at the city’s Treasury office.
The 31 other establishments are meted with fines for breaching City Ordinance No. 596 prohibiting the operation of videoke and other amplified devices from 11 p.m. until 12 noon the following day.
“Both city ordinances were passed by the City Council in 2017 and our job is to implement them as part of our mandate,” he said.
Prior to the strict enforcement of the city ordinances, POSO has embarked on an information campaign through the village chiefs in the city’s 54 barangays, where tarpaulins are also posted in strategic places for people to see and be aware of the ordinances, including their penalties.
Under the ordinance, violators of the liquor ban will be fined PHP 3,000 for the first offense, PHP 5,000 for the second offense or three months imprisonment or both and for the third offense a fine of PHP 5,000 or one year imprisonment or both.
Business establishments violating the ordinance will face three days closure, five days closure, 10 days closure and revocation of business permit if they committed the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th offenses respectively.
Meanwhile, the videoke ban offenders, whether individual or business establishment, will face the penalty of PHP 1,000 fine or an imprisonment of not more than six months or both upon the discretion of the Court for the 1st offense.
Rodriguez vowed they will continue to apprehend violators with the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In a related interview, Christopher Nemes, POSO administrative officer explained that those who have been issued ordinance violation tickets for payment of fines are closely monitored with the Treasury and other offices issuing permits such as the BPLO for renewal of licenses; Information, Investment Promotions and Public Employment Services Office (IIPESO) for Mayors Permit; and the PNP for police clearance.
“Those violators are considered in the “red flag” list and closely monitored by other offices. Failure to pay such fines will undermine their business permit renewals, issuance of Mayor’s Permits or police clearances,” Nemes clarified. (Zen Trinidad/PNA)
