Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez has ordered the suspension of all licenses and permits to sell and serve liquor and intoxicating beverages in the city starting March 15 until March 31.

Olivarez said the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), under Atty. Melanie Malaya, recommended the suspension of licenses and permits to sell and serve liquor while the unified curfew hour being implemented in the National Capital Region is still in effect.
He said that Malaya came out with the recommendation due to surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the city.
Based on the report of the City Health Office (CHO), a total of 554 cases, including those with no addresses and unknown barangays, and 99 new cases were recorded as of March 13 despite the enforcement of health and safety protocols.
The mayor said the recommendation was also to stop the increasing number of active cases of COVID-19 in the city.
Olivarez said there is also a need to control the movement of people and to limit personal socializations and interactions by discouraging social gatherings and non-essential congregation of individuals.
He added the availability and selling of liquor and intoxicating beverages, which are not regarded as basic necessities, will also limit the transmission of COVID-19 among family members and its extended circle, within groups, or within a limited locality.
The mayor tasked the BPLO, barangays, and the local police to enforce the order to all establishments including restaurants, bars, beer houses, KTVs, groceries and supermarkets, convenience stores, sari-sari stores, and other establishments issued with liquor permits.