BARBECUE vendors at the Larsian Food Park along Don Mariano Cui St. near the Fuente Osmeña Circle may soon face administrative charges, revocation of their permits, or worse, the closure of their stalls if proven to have violated health and sanitation laws.
Cebu City Attorney Rey Gealon issued the statement after an inspection conducted by the City Health Office (CHO) showed the presence of rats, cockroaches and flies at the popular barbecue strip.
City Health Officer Daisy Villa said the City will enforce pest control measures inside the food complex and check if stall owners have health cards.
The absence of health cards could be a ground for the confiscation of a food outlet’s sanitary permit.
Gealon said the confiscation of the sanitary permit will have the operation of the business halted.
“The evidence that will be gathered in coordination with other concerned departments of the City will determine the subsequent legal course of action of the office,” said Gealon.
“The mayor cannot allow these unscrupulous business owners, who enrich themselves in lieu of adopting healthy and sanitary measures in their respective business premises, thereby endangering public health,” Gealon said.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has yet to receive the CHO report but he vowed to execute his powers to uphold general welfare even if Larsian sits on a Provincial Government-owned lot.
“Regardless of the ownership of the lot, for as long as sanitation and health issues are concerned, we have to look into this. The City has an obligation to promote and protect the health and sanitation of the people,” Labella said.
The City will coordinate their planned measures with Capitol as Larsian is being operated by the Provincial Government.
Meanwhile, Villa urged the public to send in their complaints against food establishments operating in Cebu City on CHO’s Facebook page so they can immediately act on these concerns as part of intensified measures to monitor food establishments in the city.