A liquor ban has been implemented anew in Navotas City amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday (March 17), Mayor Toby Tiangco announced that the sale, delivery, and consumption of alcoholic drinks in public areas will be banned in the city while community quarantine is in place.
Based on City Ordinance No. 2021-18, strolling around the city while under the influence of alcohol and carrying liquor in public areas will also not be allowed.
Violators shall be meted with a P1,000 fine and/or one-day imprisonment on their first offense; P3,000 and/or five days imprisonment for the second offense, and P5,000 or 10 days jail time for the third offense.
“Sa inuman, madalas hindi nasusunod ang mga safety protocols tulad ng pagsusuot ng face mask, social distancing, at hindi pagsasalo-salo sa pagkain, o hindi paggamit ng iisang baso at mga kubyertos (In drinking sessions, most of the time safety protocols are not observed such as the wearing of face mask, social distancing, and not sharing of food, drinking glass, and cutlery),” Tiangco said.
“Hindi po porke mukhang malusog at walang sintomas ang mga kainuman—kapamilya man ‘yan, kaibigan, o kapitbahay—ay hindi na sila carrier ng virus. Tandaan po na karamihan sa mga nagpopositibo ay asymptomatic o walang sintomas kaya nakahahawa sila nang hindi nila alam (Just because your drinking buddy — whether a family member or a friend — seems healthy or does not have symptoms, it doesn't mean that they are no longer potential carriers of the virus. Remember, most of those who tested positive are asymptomatic, they are infectious without them knowing),” he added.
Just last February, Navtoas lifted the liquor ban which was imposed in the city for nine months.
Navotas is the ninth city in Metro Manila to impose the liquor ban anew. Other cities which have already prohibited the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks are Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Paranaque, Pateros, Malabon, Muntinlupa, and Valenzuela.