THE Lapu-Lapu City Government shut down an internet cafe in Olango Island for allowing students to enter the establishment during school hours, a violation of a city ordinance.
Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza issued a closure order to Domingo Paquibot Jr. in Barangay Talima, after the City inspection team confirmed that this happened in his internet cafe.
Also, the City found out that Paquibot operated the cafe without a business permit.
“During the inspection, it was discovered that you (Paquibot) allowed admission of a group of students, on a school day and within the school hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. into your internet café, which is a clear violation of City Ordinance 363-2006,” the order read.
City Ordinance 363-2006 regulates the “operation, design, layout and construction of all internet cafe and other establishments engaged in similar business” within Lapu-Lapu.
This prohibits internet cafe operators from allowing students of high school and elementary to enter the cafe during school days from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
First offense
If an operator is proven to have violated the measure for the first time, his business permit will be suspended for three months.
In the case of Paquibot, Duero said they have to close the establishment because it lacks a business permit, which violated City Ordinance 437-2007.
The inspection team went to the area last Aug. 19 at 10:30 a.m., following a complaint from a resident in Talima through a phone call.
The team saw the students inside Paquibot’s cafe at that time.
Initially, Paquibot went to the City and promised that he will stop operating his coin slot internet cafe, said Rolando Duero, secretary to the mayor.
Confirmed
However, the inspection team found out that he continued operating even after they inspected the area again last Sept. 1.
“Naay nanawag nga nag-operate gihapon. Confirmed man. Wa na mi mahimo. (We received a call that Paquibot was still operating. It was confirmed) We have to execute,” Duero said.
The City has also regulated the issuance of business permit for coin slot internet cafes, so children will not be exposed to any inappropriate content over the internet, he added.
