Beer joints near schools threatened with closure

Saturday, February 4, 2012

THE Liquor and Licensing Commission (LLC) in Cebu City Hall will recommend the closure of restobars, karaoke bars and other beer joints in the City operating within 100 meters from schools.

This was after the LLC refused to approve the application of some business establishments selling and serving liquor near the academic institutions.

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LLC Vice Chairman Leonardo Chiu said members of the commission agreed to shut down establishments that violated City Ordinance 1413 or the Liquor Licensing Ordinance.

Section 12 of the ordinance states no liquor license shall be issued to any person, partnership, firm or corporation whose place of business is within the residential zone of urban areas and within 100 meters from the perimeter or property boundary line of any school or hospital.

Students

Chiu said they are particular about beer joints near schools to protect the interest of students.

He said it’s dangerous for students to be drinking when they are supposed to stay in school. They might get involved in crimes, Chiu said.

He said they are also looking for the records of beer joints near the schools that were issued special permits. Chiu said they want these records cancelled and eventually recommend closure.

Risk

Chiu said the amount of money collected from the permits issued to these business establishments is not worth the risk students will be exposed to.

Juanita Monina Paires, tax mapping of business establishment division chief in the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), said hundreds of business establishments in the City will be affected if the plan pushes through.

She said karaoke bars, restobars and other beer joints paid P6,000 to the CTO after their applications were disapproved and another P2,000 for the special permits to sell liquor beyond 10 p.m. after they got a consent from the concerned schools.

Gross sales

Paires said business establishments also paid its business tax, which is 2.5 percent for every P50,000 gross sales and another P10 for every P1,000 in excess.

City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said the City Government stands to lose millions of pesos if the LLC will strictly implement City Ordinance 1413.

Oliva said she won’t oppose the plan but she advised the LLC to go slow on its implementation.

“That’s their mandate. But my advice is not to rock the boat and go slow to make it less painful.

They don’t have to be overzealous about their work. Stay cool Nards (Chiu) because it’s a headache to look for money,” Oliva said.

The CTO has a P5.2-billion target collection for this year to fund the programs and projects of the City Government.