THE Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) has issued a total of 240 special permits for establishments to serve liquor.
Of the 240, nine establishments have been issued a show cause order ever since the liquor ban in Cebu City was lifted.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella lifted the liquor ban in the city on May 6, 2021.
Cebu City BPLO head Jared Limquiaco said the nine establishment owners or operators have been asked to explain in writing why their special permit should not be revoked.
Limquiaco said aside from the nine establishments which have committed a major violation of health protocol, there were also “countless” establishments that have committed minor violations and were only verbally admonished to implement health protocol inside the establishments.
Most of the violations committed by the establishments were failing to implement social distancing and holding karaoke.
One restobar on Gen. Maxilom Ave. was also called out recently by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for holding what looked like a disco inside its establishment.
Limquiaco said having nine establishments violate health protocol is too much.
“Nine is already considered many because it doesn’t take much for Covid-19 to spread,” he said.
Limquiaco asked the establishments to closely monitor if the customers are practicing social distancing even if the maximum capacity has not been reached yet.
As earlier reported, after the first offense, if these bars still fail to implement health protocol, their permits to serve liquor will be suspended and if there will be a third violation, their business permits will be revoked.
Limquiaco thanked those establishments that have been following and implementing health protocol.
The Health Infection and Prevention Control Officer (Hipco) in each establishment must do his duty to ensure the establishment is compliant with the health protocol and guidelines set by City Hall.
Before the establishments can get a special permit, they need to send representatives to undergo Hipco training which is conducted by the EOC.
After the training, the EOC, led by the BPLO team, will inspect the establishments to determine their maximum capacity. The allowed capacity will be posted in front of the establishment.
Under Executive Order 130, establishments must accommodate only up to 50 percent of their maximum capacity of seated customers at any given time, regardless of the floor area.
If an establishment will hold live entertainment, it needs clearance from the EOC that would then be indicated in the special permit, the EO states.
Limquiaco said the special permit to serve liquor that the establishments have to acquire is on top of the regular license to serve and sell liquor. (JJL)