Mayor Edgardo Labella issued an executive order strictly banning private parties inside hotel rooms in Cebu City.
Labella said in a press conference his decision was made after the tragic incident involving a flight stewardess who died allegedly after partying with friends inside two adjacent hotel rooms in Makati City.
“If there are parties, (they) should be held in the function rooms not inside private rooms,” he said stressing that these “hotel rooms are supposed to be places for rest and sleeping, not for partying”.
“The city government may exercise the option to cancel the business permit if the establishment will continue to allow private partying.”
Labella said the city government will issue a warning to any hotel that will violate the order for the first time but they may exercise the “option to cancel the business permit” if the establishment will continue to allow private partying.
He said the city will conduct monitoring on possible violations through the Commission on Tourism headed by former Councilor Joselyn Pesquera.
The commission, Labella said, is very active in complying with the directive to monitor hotels, as the city wants to prevent the same incident that happened in Makati City which resulted in the death of Christine Dacera.
He stressed the Department of Tourism has guidelines on parties inside accommodation establishments.
“And if they do it surreptitiously so that they would not be seen by people because they are trying to use illegal drugs or whatever, that should not be allowed,” Labella said.
“Even if parties are ought to be held in function rooms, minimum health standards must also be strictly followed.”
“Even if parties are ought to be held in function rooms, minimum health standards such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields as well as the 50 percent venue capacity must also be strictly followed,” he added.
Labella reminded visitors that the capital city is still under state of modified general community quarantine because of the presence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).