LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government recently ordered a municipal-wide ban on the offering, selling and serving of intoxicating liquor by bars and similar establishments from noon of December 31, 2024 until 1am of January 1, 2025 to help deter the occurrence of crimes that affect the prevailing peace and order situation in the locality.
Under Executive Order No. 083-2024 issued by Mayor Romeo K. Salda, the operation of establishments serving liquor during the holidays puts added strain on the already limited police personnel and resources to respond to liquor-related incidents, thus, a municipal-wide liquor ban is suitable to secure life, limb and property of the community.
At present, the Christendom worldwide is observing the Yuletide season, a time for families and friends to come together to strengthen their bonds, create memories, give back to others and reflect on the year and set their sights on the coming year.
One of the celebrations actively participated in by people from all walks of life is welcoming the new year 2025 with much revelries where most people tend to be under the influence of liquor by the time that the year will change.
Salda claimed that under the town’s Code of Ordinances, on Sundays and legal holidays, the ban on serving and dispensing intoxicating drinks shall be in effect for the whole day of the ordinary business operation of the concerned establishments until its closing hours.
“To preserve the sanctity of the observance and to prevent danger to life and property, and injury caused by loss of inhibition and distorted motor skills due to drunkenness during the holidays, especially New year’s eve, there arises a need to refrain the serving of intoxicating liquor,” Salda stressed.
The local chief executive tasked the personnel of the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station to conduct routine monitoring of the operation of bars and similar establishments during the implementation of the municipal wide liquor ban to ensure their compliance and guarantee the peaceful and orderly celebration of the coming of the new year.
Further, he urged bars and similar establishments to cooperate with the implementation of the 12-hour liquor ban because what is at stake is the overall safety and security of the residents and visitors that want to peacefully welcome the new year for everyone to be safe and injury-free at the start of 2025.
The mayor also called on barangay officials to ensure the monitoring of stores in their respective areas of jurisdiction to ensure their compliance to the enforcement of the liquor ban so that injuries to innocent individuals and unnecessary damages to properties will be avoided once the people will start celebrating the new year with their respective revelries right in the vicinity of their residences.
The municipality is targeting zero casualty in terms of firecracker or fireworks-related injuries and liquor-related damages to property with the upcoming celebration and welcoming of the new year with the order on the ban on sale of firecrackers and the recently issued liquor ban in the municipality to help in achieving the overall goal of the government’s Oplan Iwas Paputok program that is being conducted annually from December 21 to January 6 the following year. By Dexter A. See
