ANGELES City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has warned owners and managers of night clubs and sing along or karaoke bars in the city not to employ minors.
The mayor said establishments found employing teenagers will face closure.
Lazatin included in his order bars accepting customers below 18 years old.
“Agaran tayong nag-inspection sa mga clubs natin. At patuloy tayong mag-i-inspection. Napaka importante na walang menor de edad na nagtatrabaho at bumibisita dyan. Hindi natin iyan papayagan sa ating administrasyon. Hindi natin papayagan na ma-exploit ang mga kabataan sa termino natin,” he said.
Lazatin said his administration loves children. “The youth is the hope of our future.”
The local chief executive said the children should be in schools and not in night clubs. “Dapat magaral la ren, e la dapat lulub kareng bars (They should be studying and not working in clubs).”
Lazatin said that some night clubs serve liquors to minors visiting their establishments.
“We want to prevent untoward incidents that is why we prohibit the selling and serving of liquors to minors,” the mayor said.
Lazatin said he has directed his men to rescue all minors begging for alms and selling items during curfew hours.
A team headed by Lazatin’s chief adviser and tactician IC Calaguas earlier rescued 31 minors loitering in streets all over the city.
Calaguas, who personally led the operation, said Lazatin formally launched the program for street kids on August 20, 2019 to reach out and rescue homeless children and families.
He was assisted by Executive Asst. IV Reina Manuel, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Angeles City Police Office (ACPO) – Women’s Desk, Gender and Development (GAD) Office, and Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (ACEDIPO).
The 31 minors were turned over to the CSWDO, according to Calaguas, who said that they will be referred to the Tuloy Foundation.
Last August 5 and 7, Lazatin met with Tuloy Foundation President Te Marciano Evangelista to discuss programs for children at risk.
The mayor vowed to support the foundation stressing the need to rescue and empower out-of-school children.
Calaguas mentioned that one of the mayor’s programs is to make Angeles a child-friendly city.