DAVAO CITY – Establishments here using sharp pointed barbeque sticks now face closure and cancellation of their business permits once caught using such skewers after the city council passed an updated ordinance on the ban last week.

The new ordinance raised penalties against business establishments serving food needing the use of skewers or bamboo sticks without cutting their sharp ends before serving them to customers.

Once the law takes effect upon publication, violators shall be fined P300 for the first offense. Subsequent violations would draw imprisonment of one month, closure of the establishment and cancellation of business permit depending on the discretion of the court.

The ordinance was passed last Tuesday and was proposed by Councilors Mabel Acosta, Peter Lavina, Danilo Dayanghirang, Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz and Angela Librado-Trinidad.

According to Lavina, the old “bamboo stick ordinance” needed amendment as the original law was passed during the early 70s.

“Sharp barbeque sticks may be used as ‘instant’ weapon so it is imperative to protect the public by banning the use of skewers that would potentially harm the public,” Lavina was quoted in the vernacular during a recent Kapehan sa SM here.