MANILA, Philippines—Now it’s Quezon City’s turn to put its foot down on “short time” in motels and lodging houses.

A city councilor is batting for a ban of “short time” or the practice of leasing rooms to couples for less than 12 hours in motels, apartment hotels and similar establishments.

In a proposed ordinance, Councilor Edcel Lagman Jr calls for the prohibition of the practice as it supposedly encourages sexual activities among the young.

“Such practice promotes the promiscuity and illicit sexual activities among the populace, more particularly minors, due to the accessibility of these short-time rooms,” the three page measure reads.

The proposed ordinance is currently being deliberated by the Quezon City council and is on first reading, said councilor and majority floor leader Antonio Inton Jr.

Earlier, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional a city ordinance that banned short time admission in motels, hotels and inns in the city of Manila. It ruled that motel owners had the right to offer short-time admissions and that the personal rights of their clients should be respected.

The Manila city ordinance, which was passed during the first term of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, sought to ban such “short time” leases on the premise that motels were being used for illicit sex and prostitution.

In its decision, the court pointed out that private individuals also have personal rights which cannot be arbitrarily invaded.

In his proposed ordinance, Lagman argues that hotels which don’t rent out rooms on a short time basis are at the losing end against motels and other similar businesses.

“Legitimate hotels which are not leasing out rooms on a short time basis are likewise prejudiced by these establishments because the former are forced to compete with the latter on an unlevel playing field marked by unfair competition,” the proposal says.

Under Lagman’s proposed ordinance, the ban on “short time” will cover all hotels, hometels, apartelles, lodging houses and other similar establishments.

Any establishment within Quezon City will not be allowed to rent their rooms for less than 12 hours.

Owners of inns which violate the ordinance, should it be passed, will have their licenses revoked for two months and will be also made to pay a fine of P4,000.

The second offense will mean a four month revocation of the license and P5,000 fine, while the third offense will mean the permanent revocation of the license to operate.

The ordinance will also task the city’s business permits and licensing office, the department of public order and safety, and the Quezon City Police District to conduct inspections of motels and inns.