Duterte’s liquor ban won’t affect Sta. Fe’s tourism industry — mayor

A tourist (sitting behind the tree) relaxes as takes in the scenic view of the sun and sea at a beach resort in Santa Fe in this October 2009 file photo. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

THE planned nationwide liquor ban and curfew for minors, which presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte will implement when his term starts, will not affect the tourism industry in Santa Fe town in northern Cebu, a town mayor said.

“The idea is very much welcome here. Well, it’s for the benefit of the tourists and (for them) not to disturb the community,” said Santa Fe Mayor Jose Esgana. Santa Fe and the two other towns of Bantayan Island are popular tourist destinations in Cebu.

Duterte earlier said he plans to implement a nationwide liquor ban starting at 2 a.m. and a curfew for minors. He plans to put in jail parents of the children caught during the curfew.

Esgana said there are more than 100 establishments and 50 beach resorts that sell liquor operating in his town.

He said 50 percent of these establishments are owned by locals and 50 percent by foreigners who are married to Filipinas.

Esgana also said that the town even has a similar ordinance to that of Duterte’s planned liquor ban measure where establishments are ordered closed for business at midnight.

However, he said that the town ordinance, which needed more teeth because it has lesser sanctions for violators, is also weakly implemented in the town.

On Duterte’s plan to implement a curfew for children, Esgana said he also welcomes the idea, but the national government should put a Department of Social Welfare and Development center for the children.

“They must provide the center for the children. We need logistics to also implement the curfew,” he said.