Mayor Evelio Leonardia has ordered the total lifting of the liquor ban here effective Monday, the first day of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
“The ban on the selling of liquor, wine, beer, or any alcoholic or intoxicating beverage is hereby totally lifted, subject to continuing evaluation,” Leonardia said in Executive Order 39 signed on May 31.
The total lifting of the liquor ban came a week after the mayor issued EO 37, giving the green light to the partial lifting of the ban on the sale of liquor and allowed the consumption of such only inside houses.
“In the light of the resumption of operations of the enumerated business during the MGCQ, the partial liquor ban in the city needs to be reassessed, with due consideration of the strict observance of social distancing and minimum health standards imposed by the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry,” the mayor’s directive said.
With the lifting of the liquor ban, “the consumption of liquor or any alcoholic beverages shall be allowed in public,” but “establishments or businesses engaged in the selling or serving thereof shall comply with the minimum health standards”, according to Section 2.
It also said that “(c)ustomers of said establishments or businesses shall observe social distancing, avoid the practice of sharing of glasses, and shall comply with other imposed health protocols”.
Moreover, Section 3 stated that the selling and consumption of liquor and alcoholic beverages shall be subject to the daily curfew from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. as imposed in E0 28 and in the ordinance recently enacted by the City Council.
In March, Leonardia issued EO 25 that prohibited the selling of liquor and ordered the closure of videoke bars, and internet stations in the city as part of the more stringent physical distancing measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). (Nanette Guadalquiver ndb via pna)