A Sizeable Haul for Davao’s VRU
Davao City, September 14, 2023 – The Vices Regulation Unit (VRU), an arm of the Davao City Mayor’s Office, is celebrating a substantial victory in its ongoing battle against vices.
The VRU has amassed an impressive PHP 7.2 million in fines from offenders, a testament to their unwavering commitment to enforcing city ordinances, as of July this year.
The Breakdown of Collections
Data freshly acquired from the VRU this Thursday divulged that the bulk of this collection, spanning from January to July, was derived from fines and penalties linked to various city ordinances.
The anti-smoking ordinance, contributing PHP 4.4 million, led the way, followed by the liquor ban at PHP 2.3 million, and insobriety at PHP 468,000.
The Crusade’s Commander
Hernando Las, the indefatigable VRU chief, emphasized that a significant portion of these fines stemmed from violations of the city’s anti-smoking and liquor ban regulations.
Their efforts in catching violators were bolstered through partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape.
The Midnight Sentinel
“In the wee hours, commencing at 1 a.m. and extending until 8 in the morning, the mere presence of a beer on a table, regardless of its state, full or half-full, serves as incontrovertible evidence for us. We meticulously document it before issuing a citation ticket,” Las elaborated during an interview.
Navigating the Liquor Ban Waters
The city’s liquor ban ordinance strictly prohibited purchasing and consuming alcoholic beverages in public spaces from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m., and it also considered possession of alcoholic beverages during this timeframe as a violation.
Enforcing Accountability
VRU records underscored that apprehensions under the anti-smoking ordinance surged to 4,600 from January to July this year, marking a substantial increase compared to the 3,551 cases during the same period in 2022. Of these cases, 4,355 have complied with the regulations, while 245 cases remain embroiled in legal proceedings.
A Public Service Reminder
Las issued a poignant reminder to the public, emphatically asserting that smoking in public spaces was strictly verboten. Furthermore, he urged individuals to take advantage of designated smoking areas, emphatically stressing that city visitors were not exempt from this regulation.
Liquor Ban Violations Under Scrutiny
In a parallel narrative, Las underscored the surge in liquor ban violations this year, with 1,121 cases recorded over the past seven months, surpassing last year’s tally of 922 during the same period by 199 cases.
Out of these cases, 774 individuals have followed the regulations, while legal proceedings have entangled the remaining 347 cases.
As the VRU persists in its relentless mission to combat vices in Davao City, we encourage both residents and visitors to stay vigilant and abide by these crucial ordinances, contributing to a safer and more orderly urban environment.
Sources: THX News & Philippine News Agency.
