Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 319)
Executive Order No. 319 covers night clubs, cabarets, dancing schools, and dance halls, regulating their establishment, maintenance, and operation.
A night club is any place or establishment selling food or drink to the public where customers are allowed to dance.
No night club, cabaret, dancing school, or dance hall shall be established within 1,000 lineal meters from city halls, municipal buildings, provincial buildings, public plazas, public schools, churches, hospitals, athletic stadiums, public parks, or any institution of learning or charity.
They must have a properly ventilated, well-lighted dancing space maintained under sanitary conditions, have no private rooms except specific exceptions (lavatories, dressing rooms, bar, kitchen), be certified safe by the city or district engineer, be enclosed with a fence having only one entrance, no communication with dwelling places except through the entrance, and have proper parking facilities.
They may operate from 5 p.m. to 12 midnight every day, except Saturdays, days preceding official holidays, and town fiestas, when they can operate until 2 a.m. The establishments authorized as restaurants may remain open outside these hours but must not allow dancing during those times.
Minors under 18 years old (unless in private parties with parents or guardians), persons carrying deadly weapons or firearms (except government officials performing their duties), and intoxicated persons are prohibited.
They must be at least 21 years old or at least 18 years old with parent or guardian consent, and must have a written certificate from the District or City Health Officer certifying they are free from contagious or infectious diseases, obtained every three months.
The Department of the Interior is charged with the supervision and enforcement of this Executive Order.
A permit must be issued by the city or provincial treasurer (or representative) after compliance with the Order, and a license must be obtained from the city, municipality, or municipal district treasurer. The license fee is not less than 200 pesos annually or 50 pesos quarterly unless higher fees are prescribed by ordinances with Presidential approval.
The Secretary of the Interior may revoke any permit or license if gambling or playing of prohibited games takes place within the establishment, or for violation of any provision of this Order, leading to withdrawal of the permit and license and forfeiture of paid sums to the city or municipality.