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Closure order on QC bar lifted

July 18, 2021 Melnie Ragasa-limena 329 views

THE temporary closure order issued against a bar in Tomas Morato in Quezon City has been lifted as the establishment has complied with the conditions and protocols provided under the guidelines on health protocols against COVID-19.

QC Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) head Margie Santos said that the En Route Distillery Bar can now be reopened.

The BPLD shutdown the bar last July 12 for alleged violation of safety standards and existing national and local quarantine guidelines.

“We were quick to close down violators, but we also support their reopening as soon as we are assured that they are complying with ordinances, laws and guidelines,” Santos said.

However, the BPLD also issued a temporary closure order on Saturday, July 17, on three more bars as it ramps up its random inspection of business establishments.

The city’s enforcement unit, Task Force Disiplina and the Quezon City Police District discovered that these bars were seen operating even beyond public safety hours.

Their customers and employees were also caught violating health and safety protocols, as well as local and national quarantine guidelines.

One of these establishments is Guilly’s Island Restaurant and Bar in Tomas Morato where 29 employees and 10 customers were issued with Ordinance Violation Receipts (OVR). In addition, it was discovered that the establishment was operating with an expired business permit.

BPLD also ordered the temporary closure of Karma Lounge in Tomas Morato for violation of health protocols and quarantine guidelines, as well as operating with an expired mayor’s permit and 30 of its employees do not have occupational permits. Another establishment, Batcave Music Bar along Visayas Avenue, was also caught violating the city’s quarantine guidelines and health protocols with three of its employees unable to produce an occupational permit.

“We can not let our guard down especially with the revelation of health experts that community transmission of the Delta variant has been detected. Vigilance and the support of QCitizens in reporting erring estabishments would prevent superspreader events and the widespread transmission of Covid-19,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.