Revocation of permit awaits violators of health protocols

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City’s business permit and licensing office (BPLO) has warned business establishments that are considered usual violators of the health protocols that their permits to sell and serve liquors will be revoked if they fail to control their customers.

BPLO head Jared Limquiaco said they will not anymore tolerate the usual justifications of these violators.

“Kay ang usual nato nga mga rason nga madawat is mamaligya sila og alcohol, kaning makahubog nga mga mainom, and then para nila mao nato. Human na ilang responsibility. Ang mga tawo namalit, mag-inom sa kilid sa ilang establishment pagwala na sila,” said Limquaico.

“Molapas sila’g curfew, miingon sila nga nanira nami, but nagpadayon sila’g inom. Usual na sila na rason... Nagkasabot mi nga di na na dawaton nga mga rason,” he added.

Limquaico said they will hold the establishments responsible for their surroundings, especially those selling liquors. He said the 14 establishments that were given a show cause order for violating the health protocols have already submitted their explanations and usual answer is that they cannot control their customers.

“Giinform namo sila nga dapat if naa sila’y establishment, sila gyud mocontrol sa mga tawo. Di sila moingon nga ang mga customers nila di maminaw nila,” said Limquaico.

Limquaico also disclosed that the revocation of the liquor permit of a certain establishment is already on the works and might be released this week.

In addition, Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the city, said there are establishments that do not even have business permit.

Garganera warned that they will not be hesitant to close these establishments.

“It’s not a question of choosing lives over livelihood. They have to co-exist that’s why kami diri, we don’t want to revert back to GCQ,” said Garganera.

“Pero, naay uban establishments they’re so greedy sad. Naa tay balaod, naa tay capacity, pero tan-aw nila way police, way nagtan-aw, they don’t even police their own establishment,” he added.

Under the executive order, the maximum capacity for establishments is at 75 percent.

 The councilor also mentioned that there are establishments that are “very uncooperative” with the contact tracers.

“Naay uban nga they have a hard time connecting kay matod pa nila naa sila’y kaugalingon kuno nga mga contact tracer. Coordinate man gani’ng hospital, sila pa kaha,” said Garganera.

Garganera said they will not hesitate to close these establishments until such time that they cooperate.

“Kay kanang COVID, bisag unsaon nimo’g tago, manimaho gyud na. The earlier they’ll coordinate with EOC, early detection, early intervention, madali ra nato macontain ang COVID, makaoperate ra gihapon ang ilang establishment,” he said.

Colonel Wilbert Parilla, Cebu City Police Office deputy city director for operations, said the police observed during the Oplan Bulabog that the same establishments are committing violations.

Since renewal of permits is currently ongoing, Parilla said the CCPO is requesting the BPLO to require establishments, especially restaurants and bars, to disclose how much their capacity is.

“Kay as of now dili man ta kaingon nila nga moviolate sila because no specific figure nga pila gyud ang ilahang capacity sa usa ka establishment. That is why we request the BPLO, i-disclose nila pila ang ilahang number of customers nga ilang i-allow sa sulod sa ilahang establishment,” said Parilla.

Parilla said this will be used as their basis in the operations to come. — FPL (FREEMAN)