Coming soon: more parties in city after 2 a.m.

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

PARTYPHILES should rejoice as nightspots can now operate beyond 2 a.m. under the administration of Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Treñas said he will repeal Executive Order (EO) 146 issued by his predecessor Jose Espinosa III in 2017 which sets the 2 a.m. curfew on bars, restaurants, and other leisure establishments.

“I think Iloilo City is responsible enough to take care and to serve alcoholic drinks beyond 2 a.m. I will just talk to the police if they can assure me that we have the necessary personnel to make sure that the peace and order situation will be maintained, and then I will immediately repeal that executive order,” he said in an interview on Sunday.

According to Treñas, he does not see the point of imposing the curfew on leisure places especially that the city is positioning itself as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination.

“We are a highly urbanized city and ginatulod ta pa nga mangin MICE destination ang siyudad so I don’t think it is proper for us to have that kind of curfew,” he said.

Treñas said he talked to some businessmen in the city and they decided to come up with certain guidelines to ensure the safety of their establishments.

“I have asked them that they will have to come up with certain guidelines para man sa ila kag ipasiguro ang kalinong man ang seguridad kag katawhay sang ila establishments. They are very happy and pleased about it I am sure it will be a boost to our tourism sector,” he said.

EO No. 146, series of 2017 directed the mandatory closure at 2:00 in the morning of all bars, night clubs, disco bars, resto bars and other similar establishments.

Former Mayor Jose Espinosa III issued EO No. 146 on December 14, 2017 following the rising number of incidents and crimes, which were reportedly committed by or involved drunks.