Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Bizmen junk curfew to serve liquor By Rimaliza Opiña
BUSINESSES located at the Nevada Square, particularly liquor-serving establishments, are opposed to the proposed ordinance prescribing the time limit of their operation.
In their position paper, the Nevada Square businessmen said imposing a time limit to their operation is not the solution to problems that the city is facing in terms of maintaining peace and order.
They said the move would affect the tourism industry and curtails the very existence of businesses engaged in the management of bars.
More than limiting the time of their operation, police visibility is paramount in the government's bid to maintain order, they stressed.
Pending before the City Council committee on laws is a proposed ordinance that limits the time of operation of liquor-serving establishments from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. for establishments with dancing; 3 p.m. to midnight for establishments without dancing; and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for retail stores.
The proposal is an offshoot of Administrative Order 114-2005 signed by then Mayor Braulio Yaranon, which was initially met with opposition by affected businessmen. Its implementation was later on suspended when then Acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. took over.
Bautista then said there has to be an ordinance that would justify the implementation of the order.
If the Council is bent on passing the ordinance, the group suggested that the schedule of operation should be standardized to a one-time schedule only.
This is to avoid the possibility that customers would transfer to another bar if the bar they were in closes because of the curfew, the group explained.
The group suggested a 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. schedule.
"Closing at midnight is far beyond what is expected by our local and foreign tourists of an enjoyable night life," the group argued.
Sex workers might also increase and bar employees may find themselves jobless because these establishments would be forced to cut down on operational expenses, including salaries, the group added.
