Monday, December 12, 2016

Police: prohibit glass bottles in Ati-Atihan streets for revelers safety

For the safety of revelers of Kalibo Ati-Atihan, the carrying of all beverages in glass bottles and containers outside the establishments or in the streets for the weeklong celebration will be banned soon.

This after an ordinance was proposed by Kalibo Sangguniang Bayan members Phillip Kimpo, Buen Joy French Villanueva and Daisy Briones in support of Kalibo police campaign to secure the festivities.

On December 12, the members of SB committees on tourism, laws and peace and order held its hearing of the proposed ordinance with the stakeholders. 

According to Kalibo police Chief Inspector Terence Paul Sta. Ana, he was concerned about the safety of revelers and visitors considering there were 12 incidents of physical harm recorded in 2016 Ati-Atihan.

Most of these bottle-throwing incidents happened during the procession and the binge drinking during the ‘Big Three Days” of Kalibo Ati-Atihan within the festival zones area. 

Drinking and selling of bottled alcoholic drinks are allowed, however, the alcohol-fueled revelers are prohibited to bring the glass-bottled drinks outside the establishments, in particular during the merrymaking or the ‘sadsad’ in the streets.

Restaurants, hotels and stores are permitted to sell alcoholic products, but, they are advised to encourage their customers to consume the alcohol in ‘private’.

The i
nitiative prohibiting the carrying of glass-bottled drinks will be introduced in time for the Ati-Atihan at the designated festival zones where merrymakers and devotees are converging for the Ati-Atihan events.

Meanwhile, festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) and the municipal government of Kalibo will continue to implement the “no bottled drinks” policy inside the festival venue Kalibo Magsaysay Park for next year's Hala Bira Ati-Atihan Nights. 

No weapons of any kind are also permitted during the January 6 to 15 celebration of Ati-Atihan, the police said.  




BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

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