Public hearing set for amendment of curfew ordinance

THE Bacolod City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday to tackle the request of the business groups in the city for the amendment of curfew ordinance in Bacolod.

Councilor Archie Baribar, who authored the curfew ordinance, said yesterday they already received the letter of Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), requesting to amend the curfew ordinance of the city to help the business sector further stir the economy.

The business sector is proposing to amend the curfew ordinance from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to 12 midnight to 4 a.m.

On their position paper signed by Edgar Sy, president of Bacolod Filipino-chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Henry Uy, chairman of Negros Occidental Filipino-chinese Amity Club, Inc.; Roberto Montelibano, president of MBCCI; William Ong, president of Northern Negros Filipinochinese Industry, Inc.; and Alfonso Cu, president of Southern Negros Filipino-chinese Industry, Inc., states that amending the curfew ordinance to allow more night business hours will not only increase the revenue of the businesses and preserve and create new jobs, but will also generate the much needed cash/taxes for the city.

Baribar said that he already talked with Carbon and he relayed to him that they understand their position, but they need also to consider the health issue.

“We will hear them as well as the general public and if it is really needed and if it is already timely then, maybe I will propose the amendment of the ordinance,” he said.

He added he also asked Carbon to prepare his data and figures for the public hearing on Monday to determine the gains and risks on their request.

The City Council earlier approved an ordinance requiring mandatory observance of a “non-social period” or a curfew in all public places in Bacolod City during the emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Baribar said that part of the preventive measures against Covid-19, is the observance of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. everyday as a non-social period for everyone in all public places.

The ordinance states that all residents of Bacolod City from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. everyday during the duration of the emergency are prohibited in all public places in Bacolod City.

Any person who is found in all public places defined under this ordinance, will be penalized with a fine of P500 or eight hours community service in the barangay where he resides within the next 24 hours from his apprehension.

If he is not a resident of Bacolod City, he will be penalized with a fine of P1,000, the ordinance said./map