CEBU City Councilor Joel Garganera urged the City Zoning Board to investigate the owners of establishments near churches and schools if they are following the ordinances passed by the City Council.
He specifically wants to make sure that business owners are not violating the prohibition on the sale of liquor in certain areas of the city “to protect the interest of the general public.
”Garganera has observed that several bars near the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) church on General Maxilom Ave. sell alcoholic beverages.
He said City Ordinance 1413 prohibits establishments from selling liquor within a 100- meter radius of schools, hospitals, public plazas and churches.
“Some of these educational institutions, churches, religious institutions, houses for worship are adjacent to bars and other establishments selling liquor or in the trade of selling alcoholic beverages,” Garganera said.
He said City Hall should ensure the ordinance is enforced, adding that the previous and current administration failed to implement the ordinance.
For Garganera, it’s not good to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages near the INC church, in the same way that it’s not ideal to sell the same near the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, which are visited often by Catholics. (FROM PAC OF SUPERBALITA CEBU/KAL)