No Drinking In Davao?

DAVAO CITY -- The City Council approved on second reading Tuesday the proposed amended liquor ban, which not only prohibits the serving and selling of liquor, but also the drinking of intoxicating drinks along city streets, parking areas and uninhabited places from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. The additional prohibition was inserted by City Councilor Melchor Quitain.

 

This means that once approved, the prohibition of drinking and consuming liquor is not only limited to all business establishments selling and serving liquors, alcoholic beverages, coconut wine (tuba) and other nature wines, but in all other public places in the city. Councilor Bonifacio Militar, proponent of the amendment, included, under Section 2, that selling and serving liquors in all business establishments shall stop within the same period.The exemption for tourism-accredited establishments has already been deleted on the second reading.

 

City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier threatened to veto such ordinance should the City Council insists on passing the measure that exempts tourism-accredited establishments under the proposed amended liquor ban.

Duterte said exempting tourism-accredited establishments to accommodate tourists, especially foreigners, is class legislation. "What is applicable to Filipinos is applicable to the foreigners," Duterte said.

 

The City Council also amended the penalties to any violations to the provisions of the proposed liquor ban. First offense calls for an administrative fine of P3,000, while the second offense calls for a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment of three months or both upon the discretion of the court. For the third offense, a fine of P5,000, or one year imprisonment will be slapped against the offender and his or her business permit will be revoked. "All persons, including minors, are prohibited to drink or consume liquors from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m.," Militar said.

 

The proposed amendment to the ordinance, which is co-authored by Quitain and co-sponsored by Councilor Jimmy Dureza, was approved under second reading Tuesday afternoon.

The City Council is expected to approve the item on third and final reading during a special session today, July 24. "We are actually acting with dispatch here upon the prodding of the city mayor," Militar told reporters earlier.

 

It was also Duterte who requested the City Council to move the liquor ban earlier from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Meanwhile, last July 19, the police arrested 13 violators of Davao City's liquor ban at a business establishment along Dumanlas Road, Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) Drive around 2:30 a.m. Friday.

The manager of the Dream 21 Disco and Cocktail Bar, Ronie Baguio Servano, 48, was also collared for allowing the 12 violators to continue with their drinking spree beyond the 2 a.m. limit. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)