Tuesday, October 16, 2007 Bello wants Net cafes probed for beer sales By Grace L. Plata
COUNCILOR Karlo S. Bello wants the Business BUreau to investigate the alleged sale of alcoholic beverages in Internet cafes without the necessary permit.
This after reports have reached Bello's office that some Internet cafes mostly along C.M. Recto St. (Claveria) in Davao City have been selling alcoholic drinks without a separate permit for alcoholic beverage retail.
Bello intends to submit a resolution in the City Council with regards this.
As many of the patrons of these establishments are students and minors, Bello also fears the possibility the children are sold these drinks indiscriminately, thus, moving for an investigation as soon as possible.
Councilor Ma. Belen Sunga-Acosta, author of the Internet Cafe Ordinance, said the selling of alcoholic beverages in the city's Internet cafes is prohibited.
Section 9, Paragraph 4 of the ordinance states that "Selling or allowing the use or consumption of prohibited drugs and intoxicating drinks within the Internet Cafe premises is prohibited."
Paragraph 5 states, "Smoking and selling of cigarettes within its premises, especially to children and minors," as stated in Paragraph 5.
Violators will be penalized with a fine of P1,000 for the first offense and/or five-day suspension of business operation; a fine of P3,000 for the second offense and/or two weeks suspension of business operation; and a fine of P5,000 and/or revocation of business permit by the Mayor for the third offense.
Internet Cafe Association of Davao (Icad) vice president Yvonne Cabada in a phone interview Monday said the prohibition was included in the ordinance due to the fact that these establishments are considered as supplemental to educational institutions giving students easier access to research materials.
"Ang lisud man gud ani kay ubang mga bars nagbutang na pud ug computers na naay internet access. Mostly ni siya ngitngit, which is another violation of the ordinance kay dili jud dapat dark ang cafe (Some bars are now putting up computer stations that have internet access and most of these bars are dark, which is another violation of the ordinance. Internet cafes should not be dark) because as such it is prone to pornography and other illegal activities," Cabada said.
She added that most violators refuse to become members of ICAD because they do not want to conform to the guidelines.
"Dili sila gusto musunod sa patakaran (They do not want to conform with the rules) which ICAD strictly enforces but regardless of membership, dapat musunod gyud sila sa ordinance which says na bawal gyud magbaligya ug (they should follow the law which prohibits selling of) beer or any alcoholic drinks," Cabada said.
