BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring all bars, night clubs, convenient stores and other business establishments operating at night to provide security guards to take charge of the overall security plan of the establishments concerned.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated all bars, pubs, convenient stores, and other business establishments that operate at night will be subsequently mandated to provide more security guards to take charge of the security and safety of their customers and the establishment they operate.
Under the proposed ordinance, failure of the owners of the business establishments to comply with the provisions of the measure after due notice shall be fined P5,000 and the non-issuance of their business permits.
Article II, Section 5 of the Philippine Constitution provides that the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.
Section 16 of Republic Act 7160 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines states every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion to the general welfare.
Yangot argued small businesses have to deal with the reality that theft and other crimes can occur within the premises of business establishments such as convenient stores, banks, retail stores and those establishments that operate at night, which may be a target of hardened criminals and petty thieves compared to other types of businesses operating in the city.
According to the proposed local legislative measure, security guards can be used to prevent the occurrence and commission of crimes, maintain security and safety of the people inside and outside the establishments, and assist customers and employees for them to be able to be safe and secured in their business establishments.
He suggested business owners should assess the benefits of hiring security guards to secure their establishments before making the decision to bring one on board. The provision of warm bodies with the duty to secure the premises of various establishments is important in curbing crimes against persons and properties inside business establishments that operate at night.
Officers of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) recommended night establishments must hire their own security guards to oversee the safety and security of their customers and owners during their operation so law enforcers deployed will be in charge of anti-criminality and peacekeeping efforts in the different hot spots in the city instead of monitoring their operations.
The security guards to be assigned in the night establishments will be the first line of security for the businesses before law enforcers will respond to the occurrence of rimes that may happen in the said establishments.
By Dexter A. See
