In order to ensure cooperation in the implementation of city ordinances pertaining to vices, the Vice Regulation Unit (VRU) will gather on July 30 bar owners within the city in preparation for the Kadayawan Festival.

VRU head Jacy Jay Francia said that the dialogue aims to ask bar owners’ help in the implementation of the liquor code and the anti-smoking ordinance.

“Makig-dialogue mi sa ilaha, unta tabangan enforce sa smoking kay daghan ang naga-smoke sa bars, pati sa pag follow sa [liquor ban] schedule para mutabang pud sila ug naa sila’y commitment sa pagtabang sa Davao City kay diri sa Davao City we are known for the liquor ban (We want to have a dialogue with them and hopefully get their help in enforcing the smoking ban because a lot of people are smoking in bars, and also in following the [liquor ban] schedule so that they can help and show their commitment to supporting Davao City—because here in Davao City, we are known for the liquor ban),” Francia said.

He said that this is also to emphasize to the bar owners the provisions of the city ordinance as they observed that some bars were found to extend their operations beyond the 1 am cut-off period prescribed by the liquor ordinance.

He added that aside from gathering bar owners, they are also eyeing to strengthen the information dissemination on the existing liquor ban and smoking ordinance in Davao City in points of entry such as seaports, the north and south checkpoints and also in the airport.

“Ang information drive, ibalik namo sa mga entry point kining mga infomercial pagdunggo sa eroplano on strict implementation and liquor ban para ma-aware ang mga coming nga bisita ( We will bring back the information drive by showing the infomercial at entry points, when planes land, about the strict implementation of the liquor ban, so that incoming visitors will be aware),” Francia said.

He added that they continue to apprehend violators of the smoking ban and the liquor code.

He reminded Dabawenyos to only smoke in smoking designated areas. As to the liquor ban they continue their operation to catch violators who may face Php 3,000 fine for the first offense.

”Hapit na ang Kadayawan mag-enjoy lang ta pero dili nato supakon ang atong mga ordinance (The Kadayawan Festival is drawing near, we should all enjoy but we should not violate our ordinances),” Francia said. CIO