BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia urged the barangay officials to intensify the implementation of City Ordinance 450 which prohibits the sale of liquor, beer, or other intoxicants to a person or persons below 18 years of age.
This, after a controversial video went viral on social media over the weekend which showed several female teenagers giving a guy a lap dance at Peats and beans Restobar at Ramos Street in Barangay 5.
Leonardia said on Wednesday, September 5, he already talked with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran about the incident and it should be stopped.
“We should not allow these because we feel that it’s immoral and scandalous. We need the cooperation of the barangay officials to monitor the operation of this kind of business,” he said.
Section 3 of the ordinance stated that for the first offense the owner, manager of any persons in charge of a duly registered business establishment serving such intoxicants to any persons who is below 18 years of age shall be liable for the suspect of one month of the business establishment of its business permit, three months imprisonment or fine of P500 or both at the discretion of the court against the owner or manager of the erring establishment.
For the second offense, a revocation of business permit of the business establishment, an imprisonment of six months or fine of P1, 000 or both, it further stated.
Leonardia said the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) should also strictly enforce the city ordinance to arrest erring business establishment owners.
“We need the action of our policemen, as well as the cooperation of our barangay officials, to avoid similar incidents,” he said.
Read: Restobar in viral ‘twerking’ video operates without business permit; owner has 3 days to comply
City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan said they are waiting for the report of the Permits and Licensing Division to determine the violation of the restobar owner.
“As soon as we have the report, we will act accordingly. We have to close it if they are operating without a business permit,” he said.
Bayatan received an information after the video went viral on social media, the restobar officer-in-charge applied for a business permit as they only secured a permit for the operation of a coffee shop and not a restobar.
He said they will hold its business permit application because that filling is an admission that they do not have a business permit.