BAGUIO CITY – The City Government will allow night establishments to extend their closing time just enough to allow their last customers to consume their orders.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan last Dec. 8 signed City Council Resolution No. 433-19 asking the Baguio City Police Office and the operators of the said establishments to allow their customers to consume their orders of food and drinks prior to closing for the night.
However, these clubs should no longer accept new orders, admit new customers beyond their allowed hours of operation and instead should physically close their premises pursuant to Ordinance No. 88 series of 2009.
The measure authored by Vice Mayor Eidosn Bilog and nine councilors was approved by the city council last Dec. 4 in response to the request of the Baguio Association of Bars and Entertainers (BABES) for some leeway in their closing time.
A proposed ordinance authored by Councilors Leandro Yangot Jr. and Elmer Datuin adopting a standard 2 a.m. closing time for all establishments has been approved on first reading and is being studied by a committee.
At present under Ordinance No. 88-2009, only establishments with dancing are allowed to operate from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. while those without dancing are mandated to operate only from 3 p.m. to 12 midnight and liquor retail is only from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“While the city values the BCPO’s effort in implementing the said ordinance, there is likewise a need for the city to note that while these establishments could easily stop customers from coming in at the allowed hours of operation, they could hardly tell customers to leave their establishments on closing time especially so if their customers still have unconsumed orders,” the resolution read.
Earlier the BABES headed by president Allan Bandoy asked for the extension of their operation to cater to customers, mostly tourists, availing of their services even after midnight.
He said this will enable them to recoup their operational expenses and realize more income to ensure quality service and entertainment to their clients including the provision of proper and ample security.
This came in the light of the intensified enforcement of the ordinance by the city police under City police director Ramil Saculles who said this was needed to further reduce crimes that happen at night and which are liquor-induced. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
