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Luzon
Bars, entertainments venues OK to open in Davao City but alcohol ban remains
Bars, entertainments venues OK to open in Davao City but alcohol ban remains
DAVAO CITY – As restrictions further eased following the shift to the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) on Wednesday, Mayor Sara Duterte said that bars, karaoke pubs, and other entertainment venues may resume operations but alcoholic beverages are still prohibited.
During her interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5), Duterte said although the local government has given owners of entertainment venues the go signal to reopen under MGCQ, the local government is not lifting the 24/7 ban on liquors.
“How can we go to the bar without drinking alcohol? Just try it first and let us see,” she said.
She added more than alcohol, it is being in the company of friends that matters.
The mayor imposed a ban on liquor on April 6 to minimize the possibility of transmitting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during drinking sessions.
The establishments are allowed to accept customers at “25-percent of the venue/room capacity, with strict disinfection every after customer use,” according to the guidelines released by the city government.
It added that the liquor ban will be subject to review on July 15.
Duterte said face masks must be worn at all times inside these establishments, unless to eat or drink only.
The mayor said they have seen conflicting provisions in the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, updated as of June 25, with respect to allowing establishments under category 4 to reopen at 50 percent capacity on the one hand, and prohibiting “leisure, amusement or entertainment” activities on the other hand.
She said, however, that the local government resolved in favor of business establishments by allowing them to reopen at least 25-percent of the venue’s seating capacity.
She said the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew is still in effect.
“These leisure and entertainment (establishments) usually operate at night because these are after work activities,” she said.
Duterte placed Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao de Oro under MGCQ while the provinces of Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental are under a low-risk MGCQ from July 1 to 15.
As of July 1, the Department of Health-Davao reported a total of 565 COVID-19 cases in the region: 435 in Davao City, 50 in Davao del Norte, 21 in Davao del Sur, 31 in Davao de Oro, 24 in Davao Oriental, and four in Davao Occidental.