DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte is expected to release an Executive Order on April 3 combining the restrictions on smoking, liquor, and selling liquor to minors in the city once she returns from her maternity leave.
In a meeting with owners and managers of entertainment businesses here on Tuesday, Duterte said she will merge the ordinances involving the Anti-Vice Regulation Unit under the supervision of Voltaire Engracia for strict implementation.
“We will lump together the anti-smoking, liquor ban, and selling liquors to minors. They might inspect you [or] conduct a raid if they can see a basis to do such a thing, and they might close your establishment,” she warned the business owners.
The city government “is willing to help and assist them,” which is why she is reminding them of the laws and their violations “to prevent the worst-case scenario, which is shutting down their establishments,” the mayor said.
Duterte said she received several complaints about entertainment businesses still violating the ordinance selling liquor to residents and visitors to Davao younger than 23 years. The names of more than 10 establishments “kept on popping up” from the complaints, reason why she decided to meet the owners.
“We are here to help you, to support you, that is why we have this [meeting]. We don’t want to close your businesses. It is not worth it to shut down your business just because of a P400 bill or so,” Duterte said.
She reminded the business owners their businesses should close by 2 a.m., and “last orders” before the closing time will still be considered a violation.
Duterte explained that by the time their businesses should be closed, the management should stop their customers from drinking, and even suggested to call the police—or her personally—to stop the drunkards.
“We will be adding personnel to the [Anti Vice Regulation] unit to further implement the law, and they will be working 24 hours to regulate it,” Duterte said.
She assured the business owners she is willing to help them, “especially when they abide by the laws of the city.” Duterte said she understands them since she “used to drink a lot” during the time she was not yet the mayor of Davao.
She told the business owners it would be better to open their establishments earlier in the day, so they can abide by the scheduled closing time.