Mayor Sara lifts liquor ban in Davao City


DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte ordered on Monday the lifting of the liquor ban in this city.

Mayor Sara Duterte (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Sara Duterte (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

Duterte lifted the restriction nearly six months since it was implemented last April 6 to prevent the exposure of individuals to highly contagious coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through drinking sessions.

In her Executive Order 50 issued on September 21, Duterte said the local government decided to lift the ban on the selling of liquor to gradually allow business establishments to resume operations, including businesses in the liquor industry.

However, the local chief executive said the selling, serving, or consuming of liquor will still be prohibited from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. under Ordinance No. 004-12 Series of 2013, or an Ordinance Amending No. 1627, series of 2014, which regulates the “operation of business establishments selling liquors, coconut wine and other nature wine and other alcoholic beverages” in the city.

Section 3 of the EO 50 provides that beer houses and similar establishments whose primary business is serving of alcoholic drinks, including nightclubs, bars, and beer garden, will not be allowed operate under any form of community quarantine, pursuant to Section 4 of the Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 20-44.

The entire city was placed under enhanced community quarantine from April 4 to May 15, general community quarantine from May 16 until June 30, and modified GCQ last July 1 until the end of September.

As of September 20, the Department of Health-Davao reported 2,666 COVID-19 cases with 2,182 recoveries and 76 deaths.

Of the total, 1,683 were reported in Davao City, 207 in Davao de Oro, 316 in Davao del Norte, 161 in Davao del Sur, 51 in Davao Occidental, and 248 in Davao Oriental.

Earlier, Duterte said the local government decided to lift the total ban on liquor to revitalize the economy and provide opportunities for those working in the industry.

“Excuse me, my fellow Dabawenyos. We are not going to lift the liquor ban for your own sake. We will lift the liquor for the businesses and for the people who are employed in the liquor businesses, not for your own happiness. This is for the business because if there is business, there is money,” she said.

Duterte lifted the restriction nearly six months since it was implemented last April 6 to prevent the exposure of individuals to highly contagious coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through drinking sessions.

In her Executive Order 50 issued on September 21, Duterte said the local government decided to lift the ban on the selling of liquor to gradually allow business establishments to resume operations, including businesses in the liquor industry.

However, the local chief executive said the selling, serving, or consuming of liquor will still be prohibited from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. under Ordinance No. 004-12 Series of 2013, or an Ordinance Amending No. 1627, series of 2014, which regulates the “operation of business establishments selling liquors, coconut wine and other nature wine and other alcoholic beverages” in the city.

Section 3 of the EO 50 provides that beer houses and similar establishments whose primary business is serving of alcoholic drinks, including nightclubs, bars, and beer garden, will not be allowed operate under any form of community quarantine, pursuant to Section 4 of the Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 20-44.

The entire city was placed under enhanced community quarantine from April 4 to May 15, general community quarantine from May 16 until June 30, and modified GCQ last July 1 until the end of September.

As of September 20, the Department of Health-Davao reported 2,666 COVID-19 cases with 2,182 recoveries and 76 deaths.

Of the total, 1,683 were reported in Davao City, 207 in Davao de Oro, 316 in Davao del Norte, 161 in Davao del Sur, 51 in Davao Occidental, and 248 in Davao Oriental.

Earlier, Duterte said the local government decided to lift the total ban on liquor to revitalize the economy and provide opportunities for those working in the industry.

“Excuse me, my fellow Dabawenyos. We are not going to lift the liquor ban for your own sake. We will lift the liquor for the businesses and for the people who are employed in the liquor businesses, not for your own happiness. This is for the business because if there is business, there is money,” she said.