Sun.Star: Baguio City imposes ‘noise curfew’ on nightspots

After imposing a curfew on minors, the Baguio City government will start imposing on Monday a “noise curfew" on nightspots following complaints from local residents. Sun Star Baguio reported on Sunday that the noise curfew limits until midnight the operations of karaoke and videoke joints and nightclubs in the city. Baguio mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said only nightclubs and establishments that have a soundproofing system could operate beyond midnight. The mayor warned owners of establishments that they face the cancellation of their business permits if they do not comply. He said the “noise curfew" is in response to the clamor of villages near nightclubs that complain of being disturbed by the loud noise from these establishments. Bautista also said the noise curfew is an offshoot of the 7 p.m. experimental curfew for minors, which will expire on the last week of this month. The city government imposed the 7 p.m. curfew for minors to prevent street fights, most of which stemmed from gang wars. Bautista’s order followed a controversial order issued in 2005 by then Baguio mayor Braulio Yaranon. Yaranon’s Administrative Order 114-2004 imposed a time limit in the operation of liquor-serving establishments from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Owners of business establishments contested the order in court. Bautista, then acting mayor, suspended its implementation, saying an ordinance has to be passed by the city council before concerned establishments are stopped from their operations. - GMANews.TV