DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte has formally created the Vices Regulation Unit, which aims to strictly enforce ordinances that pertain to smoking and selling of alcoholic beverages in the city.
On Tuesday afternoon, the mayor said the unit will be working closely with the Davao City Police Office.
The VRU will be headed by Retired Navy Capt. Voltaire Engracia, and will also conduct raids.
“Engracia will work hand in hand with the DCPO and police stations in the city for the implementation of the ordinances covered by the EO,” the mayor said.
Duterte first made public her intention to create the unit when she met with bar owners and managers last month. Her reason for creating the specialized unit was the number of complaints and reports she had received about violations of the existing tobacco and alcohol regulation ordinances.
Under City Executive Order No. 10 that she signed on Monday, the mayor placed the interim Vice Regulation Unit under the Office of the City Mayor.
She tasked the unit to ensure the effective and efficient enforcement of the provisions of City Ordinance No. 004-13, or the Liquor Ban Ordinance passed in 2003 —which banned the selling of alcohol after 1 a.m.—and City Ordinance No. 064-06 in relation to Section 7 of Ordinance no. 0292-06, or the Davao City Children’s Welfare Code, which prohibits the sale or serving of alcohol to minors.
Duterte said the VRU, in coordination with the existing Anti-Smoking Task Force, will now lead the enforcement of the provisions of City Ordinance No. 0367-12 passed in 2012, which banned smoking in all public places in the city.
It is also empowered to initiate the closure of establishments violating or circumventing the anti-vice ordinances.