Stricter liquor ban imposed in Davao City
March 22, 2020 at 11:44am
In a text message, VRU head Ashely Lopez said Thursday the implementation of the liquor ban in the city will be enforced by the city government with the help of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
On Wednesday, Mayor Sara Duterte signed Executive Order No. 14, an order temporarily prohibiting the selling or serving of liquors, alcoholic beverages, coconut wine, and other nature wines and the like that cause intoxication.
The EO prohibits selling or serving or such from 5 p.m. to 8.am., starting Thursday, March 19, 2020.
“As the enforcement agency, we have been instructed to carry out EO 14,” he said.
Authorities here have strictly been imposing the Davao City Ordinance No. 004-13, Series of 2013, or the Liquor Ban ordinance which prohibits the selling and serving of intoxicating liquors from 1 a.m to 8 a.m.
“Amending Davao City Ordinance No. 004-13 would take some time and considering the present emergency situation , there is an urgent need to immediately address this concern and impose necessary measures to protect the Dabawenyos from COVID-19 particularly in temporarily adjusting the time of liquor ban until an amendatory ordinance is duly passed or Presidential Proclamation 922 is lifted,” the EO said.
The newly signed executive order pointed out that selling, serving, and consumption of liquors and other similar intoxicating drinks encourages close contact among people thereby defeating the objectives of community quarantine.
Previously, the city government issued Executive Order No. 10, Series of 2020 declaring Davao City under a community quarantine, which also mandates that people should stay in their homes and may only come out to work, buy food or medicines, go to the hospital, or take out garbage. The EO also prohibits mass gatherings.
The VRU head stressed that everyone should follow the guidelines as the city was already under community quarantine.
“There is an imminent danger that can happen brought about by this COVID-19. Which is why we encourage everyone to abide by whatever laws will be imposed. It’s for everyone’s safety,” Lopez said.
Asked on what are the possible effects of the adjusted time of liquor ban to the restaurants and other establishments, Lopez said the sectors has already been affected even prior to the adjustment of schedule of the ban.
“Even without this liquor ban, the business sector has already been affected. I have been checking since yesterday, most establishments are compliant,” he said, pointing out that majority of the stores are already closing down temporarily.
Source: mb.com.ph
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