TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A random inspection of restobars was conducted by the City Inter-agency Task Force against COVID-19 inspectorate team evening of January 19, 2022, following reports that some of these establishments were employing Guess relations officers (GROs), which violated Alert Level 3 guidelines, specifically the rule on social distancing.
The inspectorate team found around seven women suspected of working as GROs in a restobar in Appas that had previously been closed owing to irregularities last year. They initially refused to talk with authorities but in an interview with health inspectors, the women claimed to be waiters/servers and cooks and they came from Manila and Isabela.
The inspection also discovered that the restobar lacked permits and that the proprietors were unvaccinated, a breach of the government’s requirements requiring restaurant personnel to be vaccinated with the owners reasoning they have yet to open and promised to comply with permits.
Another restobar in Mapaoay was suspected of serving alcohol and amusing patrons with GROs even during the city’s multiple lockdowns in 2021 when restobars were forbidden.
According to Business Permit and Licensing Office head Pierre Galicia, if the restobars are found responsible, they could risk closure or non-renewal of their permits, as well as having their GROs returned to their areas of origin.
Meanwhile, three restobars in Bulanao’s public market were cited for having expired business licenses, and one restobar in Ipil was cited for not having health cards for its employees.
The City Health Services Office recorded a case of sexually transmitted infection suspected to be linked to GROs in restobars, which prompted the random inspection. By TCPIO
