Malacañang has left it to the local government units to decide on implementation of the liquor ban and quarantine pass system during the stricter lockdown in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque recognized the authority of the local government units on how to implement to protect public health and order in their communities in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Ang liquor ban po talaga, lokal na pamahalaan po ang nag-i-impose niyan ‘no. So iyan po ay imposed on the basis of ordinances (The liquor ban is imposed by the local government. It is imposed on the basis of ordinances)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Monday.
"Ang alam ko pong mayroong liquor ban ngayon ay ang Makati ‘no pero iyong mga iba po ay nag-lift ng liquor ban noong tayo po ay nag-GCQ. So magiging desisyon po iyan ng mga lokal na pamahalaan (I know there is a liquor ban in Makati but others lifted the liquor ban when we shifted to GCQ. So the decision now will depend on the local government units)," he added.
On the issuance of the quarantine passes, Roque said the local government units already know the parameters on limiting the movement of people in their neighborhoods.
"'Yung quarantine passes po dalawa lang kada pamilya at iyong mga work permits naman po, pupuwede pong mag-issue ang mga local government units din po niyan (There are two quarantine passes for every family. The work permits may also be issued by the local government units)," he said.
He noted that people going to work may also show their office identification cards to pass the quarantine checkpoints.
"For now, importante ipakita iyong kanilang ID at iyong ID naman po nila ay magpapatunay kung sila ay nagtatrabaho sa industriya na pinapayagang mag-operate under MECQ (For now, it is important to show their IDs to prove they are working in an industry allowed to operate during the MECQ)," he said.
Metro Manila and four nearby provinces will revert to the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from the general community quarantine (GCQ) from August 4 to 18 following an appeal made by the medical community.
Quarantine passes will be required anew to limit the movement of the people to work and essential activities like going to supermarkets and drug stores.
Some local government units lifted the restrictions on the sale of alcohol imposed when their community quarantine places were downgraded a few weeks ago. So far, San Juan City government has reportedly imposed its liquor ban during the MECQ period.