CEBU CITY—Residents in the province of Cebu will continue to enjoy cold beers in their favorite hangouts.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia assured that she will not replicate the liquor ban that the city government of Cebu has enforced.
Garcia said the reopening of commercial establishments, including those selling alcoholic beverages, play a crucial role in the province’s bid to resuscitate the economy that has been adversely affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
"We are trying to revive the economy. We are helping everybody. Second, what is wrong with drinking inside your own house? You are not bothering anybody, ” the governor said in Cebuano during a press briefing Tuesday afternoon.
Garcia said the province, composed of 44 towns and six component cities, has been taking steps to help the economy recover and enforcing a liquor ban will affect the business that may lead to closures.
The governor also pointed out that consuming alcoholic drinks also helps a person cope with stress.
“And we know very well that some need alcohol to unwind. It calms the nerves especially now that there are so many stressful things because of the pandemic,” said Garcia.
"So let me assure all Cebuanos in the Province of Cebu, no liquor ban. Restaurants can still serve because we are no longer under ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) , we are already in MGCQ (modified general community quarantine),” added Garcia.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella on Tuesday issued Executive Order 117 imposing a liquor ban in public places.
The EO, which took effect February 2, prohibits hotels, resorts, restaurants, convenience store, sari-sari stores and other establishments from serving alcoholic drinks while the city remains under a quarantine status.
Labella said people gathering in commercial establishments was cited as one of the primary reasons why the city has been experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases.
COVID-19 cases continued to rise in the city as it logged 142 new cases last Tuesday. As February 2, the city had 1,613 active cases.