By Jennifer P. Rendon
Iloilo City residents who seek refuge in restaurants, bars, and food stalls in Iloilo province to get their fix of alcoholic beverages will have to find other watering holes.
This after Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has also issued an executive order that prohibits the serving of alcoholic drinks in restaurants, fast food chains, and food stalls in the entire province of Iloilo.
Issued on December 16, EO No. 183-H further amends EO No. 183, which sets the implementing additional and adjusted community quarantine measures on the management of establishments.
Section 1 of EO No. 183 states that “for restaurants, fast food chains and food stalls, which are allowed to open at 75 percent of seating capacity, and a maximum operating hour up to 11:00 p.m.; under Section 10 (d) of EO 183, as amended, alcoholic drinks/beverages, such as, but not limited to whisky, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, cocktail, wine, champagne, beer and such other intoxicating drinks shall not be sold and/or served. Likewise, sing-along, karaoke, and/or videoke shall not be allowed thereafter.”
The said executive order took effect immediately.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas re-imposed the ban on drinking of alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants effective November 16.
On top of keeping with the guidelines of the national Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), Treñas also cited the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in other cities in the country at that time.
But while liquor consumption in public places was banned again in the city, the sale of liquor is still allowed, but only until 6 pm.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has immediately taken steps to make sure that establishments would heed to EO No. 183-H.
Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, on Wednesday evening instructed field commanders in Iloilo province to do their rounds in their area of responsibility.
They shall also inform stall owners, food chains, restaurants and the like that serving of liquor is no longer allowed.
