CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Legal Office (CLO) has recommended to Mayor Edgardo Labella the closure of a stall at Larsian barbeque food strip near Osmeña Rotunda for operating without business and sanitary permits and health certificates.
The barbeque stall is the same establishment where a rat was captured on a viral video scuttling around the meat display.
“In order to maximize the preservation of the public health in the city, it is imperative to immediately close establishment who does not have any sanitary permit and health certificates of their food attendants and operating without business permit,” CLO’s legal opinion reads.
Lawyer Rey Gealon, CLO chief, said the recommendation came after CLO found out several violations of the food stall.
The lack of business and sanitary permits and health certificates for the stall’s workers has violated the Revised Omnibus Tax Ordinance of Cebu City and the Presidential Decree 856 (The Sanitation Code of the Philippines), he said.
Aside from lack of pertinent permits and certificates, Gealon said City Health inspectors also reported “pungent odor in the area, clogged and inadequate drainage, presence of flies, improper maintenance of the premises, no proper protective equipment for food handling, and unhealthy and unsanitary practices and conditions.”
The report of the City Health Office (CHO) was submitted to the CLO’s Larsian investigation committee. The report was based on the inspections conducted by CHO on January 31 and February 7, 2020 after the video circulated online.
Cheryl Robles, owner of the barbeque station, refused to comment on the matter pending the issuance of the closure order.
Gealon said this should be a reminder to those in the food service industry to abide by the health and sanitation laws.
“We fervently hope that all other food stations in the area, and all those operating in the vicinity of Cebu City, to be compliant with health and sanitation laws as we shall commence strict and consistent implementation as directed by the mayor to ensure that public health will be upheld and protected,” said Gealon.
“In this time of COVID-19 outbreak, authorities should constantly remind the public to keep proper hygiene. Thus, the City of Cebu is proactive in protecting public health,” he added. KQD (FREEMAN)