46 NIGHT CLUBS CLOSED FOR LACK OF BUSINESS PERMIT

September 29, 2024 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

The city government through the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) ordered the closure of 46 night establishments for operating without the necessary business permit and violation of existing local laws. The BPLO under the City Mayor’s Office inspected a total of 152 night establishments from January to September 2024 wherein 76 were found with permits while the remaining 76 failed to show proof of business registration. Of the 76 without business permit, 46 were issued with closure orders for failing to comply with permitting requirements despite being given grace period.

The BPLO along with other departments in the city such as the Public and Order Safety Division (POSD), City Health Services Office, City Treasury Office, along with the Baguio City Police Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection – Baguio Station, and barangays concerned have been conducting routine joint inspection on night establishments. This is to ensure compliance to existing policies such as business permit, liquor permit, noise level monitoring, fire safety, sanitation practices and operational guidelines as well as anti-human trafficking among others.

During inspections, entertainers or workers of night establishments are also required to present their work permit with their health card or pink card as proof of undergoing the necessary tests in compliance to City Ordinance No. 16, series of 2022, or the Baguio City Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Control Ordinance of 2022. For entertainers who travel from one place to another without a pink card or work permit, members of the Local Committee on Anti Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children (LCAT-VAWC) have yet to come up with a policy in consideration of health risk, safety and security concerns.

JM Samidan