Proposed To Amend City Ordinance No. 5133-95 Or Drinking Alcohol in Public Places

The Cagayan de Oro city government is set to revisit its ordinance on drinking alcohol in public places.

The City Council committee on police, fire, and public safety chaired by Councilor Romeo V. Calizo discussed last week the proposal to amend Ordinance No. 5133-95 or “An ordinance prohibiting the drinking of alcoholic liquor and other intoxicating beverages in all public plazas, parks, roads, sidewalks and alleys of the city and its barangays except on official functions.”

Based on the ordinance, alcoholic liquor refers to spirituous or intoxicating liquors of any kind and includes whiskey, ale, beer, brandy, gin, rum, champagne, basi, tuba, mallorca, or any other beverage liable to produce intoxication.

Under the law, it is unlawful for any person to drink alcoholic liquor and other intoxicating beverages in public plazas, parks, roads, sidewalks and alleys of the city and its barangays except on official functions or occasions duly authorized, sanctioned or approved by the barangay council concerned or the City Council and/or covered by a permit issued by the Office of the Barangay Captain or the city mayor.

Councilor Calizo said there is a need to revisit the ordinance to ensure its effective implementation.

According to a representative of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO), though the ordinance had long been enacted, no one has been penalized until this time.

He said COCPO only conducts patrolling and/or “pamadlong” in various areas.

Violators were only required to pay a regular penalty or fine, which is not based on the provision of said ordinance, Calizo added.

The City ordinance imposes a penalty of imprisonment of not less than one month and 10 days but not more than four months or a fine of not less than P500 but not more than P1,500 or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

O5133-95 (Prohibiting Drinking in Public Places) by CdeoCityCouncil on Scribd

Since the implementation of the ordinance is tedious on the part of the police, it was suggested that a citation ticket, patterned after Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) procedures, be issued to violators.

Community service, as another form of penalty, was also recommended.

Calizo said these suggestions will be studied by the City Legal Office and incorporated in the amendatory ordinance.