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Cebu News

In public places: Liquor ban back in city

Mary Ruth R. Malinao - The Freeman
In public places: Liquor ban back in city
“It shall be prohibited for any person, including owners and managers of hotels, resorts, restaurants, convenience stores, sari-sari stores and other establishments to serve and/or drink intoxicating liquor in any public place within the City of Cebu for the entire duration of any form of community quarantine,” reads Executive Order No. 117.

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City is putting back a liquor ban in place starting today, February 3, 2021.

Mayor Edgardo Labella signed an executive order Tuesday formalizing the reimplementation of the ban.

“It shall be prohibited for any person, including owners and managers of hotels, resorts, restaurants, convenience stores, sari-sari stores and other establishments to serve and/or drink intoxicating liquor in any public place within the City of Cebu for the entire duration of any form of community quarantine,” reads Executive Order No. 117.

The exemption:

“However, hotels, resorts and other accommodation establishments are allowed to serve liquor only for their in-house guests, pursuant to prevailing guidelines from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).”

Labella, in a virtual press conference yesterday, said he decided to re-impose the ban after it was observed that the leeway given to commercial establishments to serve two servings of liquor during modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) has been abused.

Cebu City remains under GMCQ for the rest of February.

The police have reported that there are establishments that failed to follow the limitations set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“I’ve noticed that it has been abused. And, a report from the police revealed that they find it very difficult now to monitor these drinking guys because instead of just strictly following the two servings, they consume a lot more,” Labella said.

The city has attributed the consistent rise in its number of COVID-19 cases in January to the movement of people, particularly gatherings during the holidays.

As of the February 1, 2021 data of the Department of Health (DOH), the city recorded 77 new cases, which brought to 1,504 its total number of active cases.

Based on records of the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) from January 1 to 24, at least 95 cases were traced to social gatherings with five others traced to drinking sprees alone. In December, 10 cases were traced to social gatherings and five others to parties alone.

Labella reminded the establishments that those that will not follow the EO will see their business permit revoked and face charges for open disobedience.

Labella also instructed Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia to pass an ordinance that would add more sanctions.

The new executive order will be enforced by the Philippine National Police- Cebu City Police Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office and PROBE team.

Barangay officials and other force multipliers are also mandated to implement the full extent of the EO within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Welcome development

The Cebu City Police Office welcomed the city’s decision, considering that there have been new cases traced to parties, bars, and restaurants.

"It's a welcome development considering sa pagtaas sa atoang positive cases karon. Dako kaayo ni siya og tabang nga ma-prevent nato ang pag-spread sa virus, considering nga there are also cases nga naggikan sa mga imnanan or transmission gikan sa mga party-party," said Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO’s deputy director for operations.

The police’s ‘Oplan Bulabog,’ which is carried almost every night have found that several establishments continue to defy the 50 percent capacity and two serving rule.

"Duna gyud gihapon mga establishment nga mo-excess og serve sa ilahang liquor sa customers and bisan curfew hour, nag-operate lang gihapon," Parilla said.

At least five establishments in the city are now facing charges for violating protocols while half of the 286 establishments that were inspected were given show-cause orders by the Business processing and Licensing Office (BPLO).

Parilla assured that CCPO will implement the order within context.

“Ato sa tan-awon kon unsay sulod sa executive order basin og naa rapoy mga limitations or restrictions with regards sa implementation sa kon unsa ray maapektohan nga establishment," he said.

No ban in province

At the Capitol, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the province will not impose a liquor ban.

She said putting a ban in place will affect establishments selling liquor, which may force them to close down.

"Let me assure all Cebuanos in the Province of Cebu, no liquor ban. Restaurants can still serve kay di naman ta ECQ, MGCQ na man ta," Garcia said.

Reminder

Back in Cebu City, Labella urged the public to observe minimum health protocols strictly such as wearing of masks and face shields, avoiding mass gatherings, and observing social distancing.

“When cases started to soar last year, nianhi ang SAF, mga armored tanks, mga checkpoints, unya we had fewer transport and establishments open. Karon, nibalik og saka and we keep reminding people to strictly observe the minimum health standards, but the figures remain high,” Labella said.

“But right now, I believe that people are now becoming complacent again. We live with the virus even without the law enforcement personnel flooding our streets, but we need to help each other by polishing ourselves, ensuring that every other person next to us practice what we preach,” he said. — With Caecent Noot-Magsumbol and Le Phyllis Antojado, Mae Fhel K. Gom-os, JMO (FREEMAN)

LIQUOR BAN

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