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MANILA – The Quezon City government will still impose a liquor ban despite the shift to a more relaxed modified enhance community quarantine (MECQ) amid rise of the Covid-19 cases.
Mayor Joy Belmonte signed a memorandum containing the MECQ guidelines which states that liquor ban “shall take effect immediately” until April 30.
“All retail sales of alcoholic beverages shall remain suspended for the duration of these guidelines,” the memorandum read.
With the unified curfew in the National Capital Region from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., the updated guidelines state all persons should be at home, except for persons going to or returning from work in essential businesses or traveling for purposes of air or sea travel as shown by pre-booked tickets.
The guideline also states that essential activities may operate on a 24-hour basis, including public transportation, couriers, cargo vehicles, market delivery, food take-out and delivery, pharmacies, hospitals, convenience stores, and delivery of essential goods.
The business process outsourcing (BPO), and other businesses exporting goods or services are also allowed to operate on a 24-hour basis.
Indoor dine-in services are not allowed in QC, however, al fresco or outdoor dine-in are allowed from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. imposing proper distancing or setting up barriers in between customers.
In Manila, persons who wish to go out of their homes for essential needs still need to show quarantine pass (QPass).
“Considering that restrictions on the movement of persons are the same during ECQ and MECQ, the requirement of quarantine pass observed under ECQ is validly carried over to MECQ as a requirement,” the Manila Barangay Bureau’s guidelines read.
Like Quezon City, Manila will also continue to limit persons to accessing essential goods and services and for work in permitted establishments.
Manila City government also reminds the public that violators may be penalized.
“In both ECQ and MECQ, any violation of restrictions shall constitute non-cooperation of the person or entities punishable under Section 9 par (d) or as the case may be, of RA 11332,” the guideline read.
Last Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to downgrade the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to MECQ in the NCR Plus composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from April 12 to 30. (PNA)
