Eateries serving liquor at city market closed

March 9, 2020 Community Billboard

BAGUIO CITY – Sixteen establishments at the city market including 13 eateries caught serving liquor to customers were padlocked March 5 by personnel from the Permits and Licensing Division and Public Order and Safety Division of the City Mayor’s Office.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed the closure orders March 4 for the eateries operating as bars in buildings beside Block 4 for violation of Tax Ordinance 2000-001 which prohibits the selling or serving of liquor in stalls, booths or stores within the city market.
The crackdown included one sari-sari store for operating without permit, one lumpia manufacturer for lack of permit and unsanitary condition and one bingo joint located at the hotcake section also for lack of permit.
Another bingo stall was issued a notice of violation and faces closure in the coming days. Licensing Division Chief Allan Abayao said the owners of the eateries had been advised against serving liquor when they renewed their permits last January but they did not comply.
Their blatant disregard of the law coupled with a recent stabbing incident in the area prompted the mayor to immediately order the closure of the establishments.
Since the mayor assumed post in July last year, the city government had closed a total of 1,872 establishments until December with another group of 45 prepared starting January this year.
Only those that complied with the requirements are allowed to re-operate.

Aileen P. Refuerzo/ABN