BPLO head Atty. August Lizer Malate
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – An official of the Mandaue City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) is reminding businesses to always follow the specifications provided in their business permits to avoid the payment of sanctions and penalties.
Atty. August Lizer Malate, the BPLO head, said that as per their experience in the past years, several businesses have the tendency to deviate from what they are authorized to sell to take advantage of the Christmas season and the Sinulog festival in January 2024.
He mentioned as an example, eateries that would start to sell and serve liquor to their customers during the holiday season and Sinulog festival.
Malate said eateries are issued permits that are different from that of a liquor store because of the difference in the nature of their businesses.
A separate permit to serve liquor is issued to establishment that sell and serve alcoholic beverages to their customers, he said.
“Pang-gabii man gud na sila, naay inom so kuyaw sad. We have to understand also. We have to monitor asa na sila kay atoang gihuna-huna ana ang safety and security. Kinahanglan og kapulisan, makahibaw og unsa ni. They have to have necessary permits. We don’t want to have any incidents kay kuyaw kaayo unya daghan na sad ta kaayo og events, occasions, Pasko, New Year, January Sinulog na. Ato lang nga when you do business sa Mandaue, ang mga costumers ma feel gyud nila nga safe sila,” said Malate.
Last October, BPLO issued cease-and-desist orders for selling alcoholic beverages to six stores located near a university at the North Reclamation Area.
These stores were caught selling alcoholic drinks to minors during a random inspection conducted by BPLO, in coordination with the Mandaue City Police Office, following several complaints that were received by their office.
Mandaue City Ordinance 14-2018-1340, which regulates the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor, prohibits the selling and serving of alcoholic beverages near schools and to minors.
According to Malate that most of these stores were eventually closed because of their continued disregard of the city ordinance and the cease-and-desist order issued by their office.
“Murag usa nalay nahabilin. Gi-close, gipadlock nato kay wala gyud gihapon sila naminaw. Serving of [liquor to] minors, ginadili gyud na siya sa atoang balaod plus wala pay permits. We will be very strict for that because we have to be fair. Ang uban man gali nga negosyante, nituman sa maong polisiya unya sila, kana bang nagserve pa sila sa minor wala pay permits,” he added.
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