Legazpi City to Pursue Liquor Ban in Street Sidewalks and Public Places

LEGAZPI CITY, June 18 --- Drinking liquor in street sidewalks and other public places will be a thing of the past in this premier city after the city legislative council is strongly bent on passing an ordinance to this effect.

Rollie Rosal city councilor and proponent of the ordinance said the proposed ordinance had been deliberated at the committee level and is scheduled for the third and final reading on Tuesday.

Rosal said the ordinance will be an enhanced version of two existing city ordinance passed during the terms of then Mayor Benjamin Imperial and former councilor Danilo Azana.

He said the enhanced version would give more teeth to law enforcers in apprehending people drinking liquor or any intoxicating substance in city sidewalks, streets and other public places.

The birth of the ordinance came on the heels of complaints from residents concerning people, specially youths, who are spending their time drinking liquor in sidewalks in various streets and villages across the city.

The ordinance would impose penalty to people caught violating the law with a fine of P300 for first offense, P500 to second offense and P1,000 for third offense.

Included in the ordinance is the imposition of fines to establishments selling liquor to minors ranging from P2,000 for first violation, P3,000 for second and P4,000 for third offense.

Rosal said there would be a corresponding penalty of imprisonment to those offenders who fail to pay the corresponding fines or who repeatedly violates the ordinance.

Rosal said he is hopeful that his propose ordinance on liquor ban in sidewalks would be passed smoothly.

As this developed, the city government would pursue the zoning of various day and night clubs and other entertain establishments operating in the city.

City Mayor Noel Rosal said these establishments would be transferred in barangay Bogtong here, an outskirt village some three kilometers from the city proper.

Rosal said transfer of these day and night clubs would decongest the city with entertainment outlets giving a seemingly bad image to the city.

"Placing this entertainment outlets in one area will improve the image of the city similar to other progressive cities, it will likewise be easier for law enforcement agencies in maintaining tranquility in the area," Rosal stressed. (PNA)