Saturday, August 16, 2008 Guidelines up for illegal drugs proliferation
VARIOUS stakeholders and city officials will draft comprehensive and coordinated guidelines to protect business establishments along the Smallville and Boardwalk complex and the general public against the proliferation of illegal drugs.
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas announced this on Saturday during a meeting with the owners and managers of the establishments, barangay officials, police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officials and Task Force Adams Apple to discuss the drug situation in the city's newest fun center.
Smallville and Board complex is presently considered as the most "in-thing" in entertainment and food haven. It has several restaurants, bars and hotels located in the area along the diversion road.
Treñas said the curfew for minors and liquor ban must be strictly implemented in the complex, adding that the condition of a business permit stipulates that no liquor should be served to a minor.
Establishments found violating this condition is a ground for revocation of their business permits.
Similarly, the city mayor said that curfew should be strictly implemented since minors are being used by crime syndicates in theft and robberies.
Treñas said that Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Director Isagani Cuevas and OIC city police director also attended the meeting with Task Force Adams Apple head Councilor Ely Estante and PDEA chief Roybel Sanchez.
However, Treñas said the present drug situation does not warrant strict implementation of curfew at the Smallville and Boardwalk complex. The alleged drug proliferation will not also hurt the image of the establishments in the complex, he said. (Lydia C. Pendon)
