Bar in hot water for violating health protocols

CEBU, Philippines —  Another bar in Cebu City was issued a show cause order for allegedly violating health protocols.

The Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) of the Cebu City government issued the order against F Café & Bar at 88th Avenue in Barangay Kasambagan after its customers were caught on camera failing to observe physical distancing evening on Saturday, June 6, 2021. 

Customers were also seen not wearing masks.

Quoting the bar’s owner and manager, the chief of the Mabolo Police Station, Major Renz Talosig, said customers were forced to run for cover when rain poured.

“Ang rason sa tag-iya ug sa manager, niulan man so nawala ang social distancing,” he said.

Strictly speaking, the number of people at the bar that night did not go beyond the 250-people capacity allowed by quarantine rules.

“Naa silay allowed nga capacity nga 250, pero tungod sa ulan, nag-sikit sila didto, nawala ang social distancing… kay tungod sa ulan, syempre mupasilong kay open man ang ubang area,” he added.

He said F Café & Bar were able to present documents to support its ongoing operation, including a special permit from the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

The special permit from the EOC is proof that the establishment’s personnel have undergone training in service during a pandemic to ensure that minimum health standards will be upheld.

EOC

The chief of the EOC, Councilor Joel Garganera, said the bar should put counter-measures in place to avoid a similar incident.

“Yes, we do encourage outdoor bars like the one in the video but we were not able to factor in when it rains. They should have counter measures if mag-uwan aron dili magtipong-pong ug maghuot sa may landong nga parte,” Garganera said.

“Just the same, it's very clear nag-violate gyud kay wala koy nakita nga nag-facemask, unya people are hopping from one area to the other not mindful sa social distancing,” he added.

Garganera said, while the city government is giving a chance for resto-bars to re-open, there is a tendency for business owners and customers to forget the health protocols.

“Ato nang gitagaan og higayon nga maka-abli sa ilang panginabuhian pero dali ra sad kaayo makalimot sa mga lagda o protocol nga mao untay bibliya nato ning panahon sa pandemya,” Garganera said.

F Café & Bar’s Facebook page post said it follows physical distancing measures strictly while ensuring the dining experience of customers to be a great one.

It also reminded patrons to remember the "WOW" acronym, which is short for Wearing a mask, Observing physical distancing, and Washing of one's hands regularly.

Lower capacity

Talosig said they have requested to lower to 150 the number of people allowed at the bar to make sure that physical distancing will be observed strictly.

“Naa man tay capability nga mu-recommend sa EOC. Actually, nabuhat na na nato sa uban nga establishment,” he said.

Garganera said customers of establishments that fail to observe protocols must also be penalized.

 “It’s not enough to go after the owner or operators, but we should likewise penalize the customers,” he said.

The Mabolo Police will monitor the establishment while investigation into the incident is ongoing.

“Di man gud magpabaya atong mga concerned citizen kay tungod lagi anang dugay nata sa pandemic, no, kay basin di na pud ganahang mubalik no sa pag-lockdown so kung naay violations, naa dayon mu-report,” Talosig said.

“Kanang mga establishments nga ga-offer og liquor, kada gabii nato na gituyokan, 8 to 11 p.m. nagtuyok na na atong police ana kay before ang curfew, dapat manirado na na sila,” he added. — Iris Hazel M. Mascardo, JMO (FREEMAN)