BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan stressed the local government is inclined to close the operation of bars and other liquor-related establishments located within the Maharlika Livelihood Complex pursuant to earlier agreements that were reached among the involved stakeholders.
The local chief executive pointed out it was already agreed the existing bars and liquor-related establishments within the Maharlika Livelihood Center have to wind up their operations by the end of the year and for them to find a new line of business to facilitate the renewal of their business permits next year.
“We were able to strike an agreement on the matter that is why all of the bar owners were given up to the end of the year to wind up their operation and to find a new line of business. We hope that the bar owners and the administrator of the portion of the Maharlika Livelihood Center where the bars are located will cooperate with the agreement which they consented,” Domogan stressed.
Earlier, Andrew Palangdao, president and general manager of the Palangdao Business Center, a sub-lessee of the Maharlika Livelihood Center claimed, based on their studies, bars are the most feasible business in the upper floors of the business center that is why bar owners are inclined to renew their business permits for the continuous operation of their establishments next year, citing the city’s zoning ordinance allows the operation of bars in the said area while the city’s tax and market ordinance do not allow such kind of establishments in the said place.
Palangdao also denied there was an agreement that was reached between the bar owners and the local government on the stoppage of the operation of liquor-related establishments in the said place which is under the management and supervision of the Human Settlements Development Corporation, an attached agency of the agriculture department.
Domogan explained the city’s market and tax ordinances governs the operation of establishments within portions of the public market wherein the serving of liquor in the different sections of the public facility is prohibited.
The Palangdao Business Center leased the third to seventh floor of the Maharlika Livelihood Center until 2025 which coincides to the expiration between the lease agreement between the DA-HSDC and the local government wherein the structures will eventually be turned over to the city as part of its properties.
Domogan reminded bar owners of their earlier commitment to find a new line of business to facilitate the renewal of their business permits to allow them to continue doing business within the Maharlika Livelihood Center because the local government is inclined not to renew their permits once their business will remain to be bars and other liquor-related establishments.
The local legislative body summoned the different parties involved in the operation of establishments in the Maharlika Livelihood Center to get their insights on the planned strict implementation of provisions of ordinances prohibiting the operation of bars within portions of the city public market. (PR)