Thursdays will never be the same.
Earlier this evening, August 1, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno hit the final nail on the coffin for drinking establishments still operating in Sherwood Place. Bar owners, patrons, and staff watched as Manila City Hall personnel blocked entrances and shuttered storefronts. A total of six bars were ordered closed after being found to still be serving alcohol.
Moreno previously signed Executive Order No.17 last July 25, revoking the business permits of bars and other establishments selling alcoholic beverages within 200 meters of schools and universities. Sherwood Place is located just across Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall—well within the restricted distance—yet still continued to operate despite the recent order.
The order, explained
The rule, however, is nothing new. Executive Order No.17 only called for the strict observance of ordinances already in place, namely Ordinance No. 3532 and Ordinance No. 8520. The former dictates the prohibition of liquor sales within 200 meters of educational institutions, while the latter explicitly prohibits selling liquor to minors.
Moreno earlier said that establishments “flagrantly violated” these ordinances prior to the issuance of the executive order.
The day after the order was signed, July 26, popular drinking spots that line Fidel Reyes St. were closed for business to comply with the new mandate, silencing an area that was once known for drawing large crowds on Thursday and Friday nights.
Meanwhile, Barn, which operates a restaurant on its second floor, remained open, removing alcoholic beverages from the menu.
‘They can still do business’
Despite the closure, Moreno assured business owners that they can renew their permits as long as they no longer sell liquor. “They can still do business, [but] not to sell intoxicating beverages or liquor. Pwedeng disco, pwedeng restaurant. They can sell drinks, but non-alcoholic,” he clarified.
(They can still do business, but not to sell intoxicating beverages or liquor. They can be a disco or a restaurant. They can sell drinks, but non-alcoholic.)
Business owners, on the other hand, argued that their operations in Sherwood Place predated the construction of Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall, as prior to its completion, the establishment’s borders was outside the University’s 200 meters. Moreno countered that new developments must be accounted for in renewing business permits. According to him, the expansion of the school would have been taken into consideration during the renewal, which would have revoked their permit to sell liquor.
Quizzed on his plans for workers and businesses displaced by the cancellation of their permits, he assured them that a fast renewal process would allow them to bounce back, provided they follow the law.
“Maswerte kayo. Ang application ng business permit niyo one day na lang. We are really trying to [make it] easy [for you],” he told the owners.
(You guys are lucky. Business permit applications last only a day. We are really trying to make it easy for you.)
Nevertheless, Moreno sympathized with business owners, explaining that they were not entirely to blame for their ignorance of local ordinances.
“Walang nagpaliwanag [ng batas] sa kanila. ‘Yung batas, hindi pa ako mayor, batas na. Hindi in-implement, so kawawa din ‘yung mga negosyante,” he elaborated.
(No one explained the law to them. The law was already there before I was mayor. But it was not being implemented, so I pity the businessmen.)
