‘No new nightclubs permit’

It was a plan that would either promote or kill Pasay City’s "Sin City" image. Now, it is a two-year waiting game.

Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad confirmed yesterday that he has not been issuing new permits to the city’s nightclubs except to those located along Roxas Boulevard in a plan to concentrate all of them in that area. "I am not saying that they (nightclubs) should go to Roxas Boulevard.

I am not encouraging them, all I am saying is that they cannot open anywhere else," Trinidad told The STAR.

Trinidad, while admitting that his policy could instead give rise to a new "red light district" or a prostitution center, said he is actually trying to eradicate this.

"Concentrating nightspots in one area could also turn out to be a boon for the industry," he said.

When asked of this and the possible criticisms from religious and conservative groups, he said; "Why should I be criticized? They should even be thankful to me. I am not opening up new nightclubs. There are no new (nightspots) so far."

This way they (nightclubs) would be more careful (in engaging in prostitution or lewd shows) because they stand to lose a lot in investment," he said.

Trinidad said that with the high cost of putting up business along Roxas Boulevard, the nightclubs would be careful not to get closed down.

Trinidad said he began implementing his no-permit policy when he assumed office in 2000. Trinidad, then a vice mayor, won in the recall elections.

"This is all part of our process in our comprehensive land use plan," Trinidad said.

The plan appears headed for the long haul, though.

While none or very few new nightclubs are opening along Roxas Boulevard, those that are existing elsewhere seem to be surviving.

"Primarily what will be affected here will be the smaller nightclubs.

They cannot open just anywhere and they would not have the money to open along Roxas Boulevard," he said.

Banning all the nightclubs including that along Roxas Boulevard in order to permanently eradicate them, Trinidad said "it would be discriminatory but if it is going to be clean entertainment, I would not see anything illegal with that."

The city mayor said he knows only of some 20 big nightclubs all over Pasay City and dozens of smaller ones.

As this developed, Trinidad confirmed last night’s raid on one of the big nightclubs in Roxas Boulevard after a newspaper columnist attacked it.

Trinidad could not recall what the columnist was saying against the nightspot but admitted ordering the police operation. – Jose Aravilla