BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved a resolution requesting the City Mayor to endorse the cease and desist or closure orders to the restaurants, bars, pubs, videoke houses and billiard halls among other erring establishments operating at the Maharlika Livelihood Center under the management of the Department of Agriculture Human Settlements Development Corporation for violation of existing laws and ordinances, including, but not limited to, Sections 134 and 130 of Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001 of the city.
The resolution authored by Councilors Edgar M. Avila and Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon stated there is a need for the strict implementation of Sections 134 and 139 of Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001 of the local government that provides that serving or selling liquor in any stall, booth or store within the market compound, including the Maharlika Livelihood Center, Lower Kayang and Hilltop market area is strictly prohibited.
The resolution noted that recent events have shown that building 2 of the Maharlika Livelihood Center has been identified as one of the sites for the breakdown of peace and order and in fact, reports indicate that nefarious prostitution activities go on at the restaurants, bars, pubs, videoke houses and billiard halls illegally serving liquor or alcohol at the Maharlika Livelihood Center.
It can be recalled that in December 2006, Resolution No. 314, series of 2006 was passed approving the appeal of a certain Mr. Palangdao for the issuance of business permits of the lessees of building 2 at the Maharlika Livelihood Center but the same was vetoed by former Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista, Jr. and that the said resolution having vetoed, the same has no legal effect and did not give any authority to anyone to sell or serve liquor and other beverages at the said building.
Despite its proximity to the city hall, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) headquarters, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Baguio Fire Department, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other government offices, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and other churches, parks and schools, the resolution stated that bars, pubs, videoke houses and billiard halls continue to operate at the Maharlika Livelihood Center which is under the management of the agriculture department Human Settlements Development Corporation.
The resolution claimed that when people are under the influence of liquor, they become unruly that cause irritation among bystanders and fellow customers that often result to heated altercations and subsequently commotions that cause injuries to a number of individuals involved or even not involved in such activities thereby resulting to the increase in the number of physical injury cases being recorded by the local police force.
The proponents asserted the continuous operation of the bars, pubs, videoke establishments, billiard halls among others that illegally serve liquor will continue to affect the good peace and order climate of the city because the said establishments that are allegedly operating without business permits will serve as the main source of individuals wanting to create trouble which will be an added burden to the local police force having to regularly patrol the area just to maintain law and order in the said place.
The resolution will be transmitted to the City Mayor’s office for the appropriate action of the local chief executive on the said matter. By Dexter A. See
