JENNIE (not her real name), 23, has been working as a call center agent at the I.T. Park in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City in the last three years.
The native of Tagum City, Davao del Norte rents an apartment in Barangay Centro in Mandaue City.
Her shift starts at 8 p.m. and ends at 5 a.m.
It has been her and her friends’ habit to drink two to four bottles of beer after work to help them fall asleep.
That’s why Jennie welcomed the Mandaue City Government’s move to cut down the liquor ban, which was implemented last year, from midnight to 7 a.m. to from midnight to 5 a.m.
Jennie said she doesn’t have to look for a convenience store in Cebu City to have a few drinks after work since she can now do that in Mandaue.
She clarified that she is not an alcoholic. She just does it so she can feel drowsy. Anyway, she said, she and her friends only do it four times a week.
“Dili man gyud mi nga mag-hubog gyud. Aw, siguro usahay kon naa pud celebration. Pero if kanang gikan lang sa duty nya aron wa nay daghan mi hunahunaon inig higda, moinum mi’g beer, ilabi na stress kaayo ang pamati (We don’t get drunk. Unless, of course, there’s a celebration. But normally, it’s to get our minds off work before going to bed, especially when we feel stressed),” Jennie said.
Jennie’s story supports what Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna told members of the media that they received requests from several call center agents who live in the city to cut down the liquor ban’s hours since many of them get out of work at dawn.
Based on the crime statistics of the Mandaue City Police Office, most of the crimes like physical injury as a result of drunkenness take place between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. during the weekends.
“Mao nga ang (That’s the) recommendation to prevent crimes nga ang hinungdan grabeng kahubog (as a result of having too much to drink); that was why we have this ordinance (liquor ban). Sa una, midnight to 7 to siya, pero ang mga call center lahi man ang oras (Before, it was midnight to 7 a.m., but call centers have different schedules). Mao na ni-adjust ang atong (That’s why we adjusted the) city ordinance,” Fortuna said.
Several store owners had also asked the City to adjust the liquor ban hours because their sales were affected.
The City had strictly implemented the ban, although people could buy liquor before midnight and drink it inside their homes.
City Ordinance 14-2018-1340, or an Ordinance Regulating the Sale and Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor in the City of Mandaue, was amended last Oct. 10, 2018. Fe Marie D. Dumaboc, Superbalita Correspondent