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By NORA SORIÑO
GSD-Iligan Bureau Chief and
HERMIE ARCILLA
Contributor

ILIGAN City–The city council here on Tuesday voted, 11-1, in favor of the lifting of the curfew here.

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Councilor Ian Uy, chair of the city council’s committee on police matters and public safety, was the only one who opposed the curfew lifting.

Uy

Vice Mayor Jemar Vera-Cruz said Uy stood “firm” on what he believed in.

Vera-Cruz said while members of the city council are concerned about public safety, they have to listen, too, to other groups like the business sector.

The curfew for those 17 years old and younger, however, still stands–they are not allowed to be outdoors from 11 pm to 4 am daily.

Engr. Glenn Villacin, head of the Iligan Hotel and Restaurants and Resorts Association (Iharra), hailed the city council’s decision, saying the curfew hours drove away investors from the city.

Some businesses have already closed shop, he noted.

Villacin said this was the consensus during the Mindanao Business Conference here, Sept. 12 to 14, when businessmen and members of various chambers of commerce from all over Mindanao came to the city.

He said that since the city is “highly urbanized,” its doors must be opened to all, and “it is not good to have curfew since people tend to shy away from the city for fear that curfew hours may catch up with them.”

Villacin said even small businesses, like vendors and even “trisikad” drivers, would benefit from the lifting of the curfew.

Maj. Jovane Cabusas, local police spokesperson, said that although the police’s recommendation was for the curfew to continue, they would accept the city council’s decision.

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