By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on June 1 clarified the notable absence of the status of the prohibition on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages from his executive order placing the province under the “more permissive” Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
In a radio interview, Defensor said the shift to MGCQ also meant the total lifting of the liquor ban in the province.
“It means that there is no more liquor ban under the MGCQ. The MGCQ EO contains the totality of the procedures that we are implementing,” Defensor said.
The governor also clarified that social distancing measures will be imposed in places where drinking is allowed.
“The only limitation here is where people can be allowed to drink liquor, there will be social distancing measures. They can now drink in restaurants and bars,” he said.
He also said that municipalities may continue to regulate the sale and consumption of liquor.
As to reports on the drastic increase in prices of liquor products, the governor said he will look into it.
“Prices of goods are being regulated by the province and the Department of Trade and Industry. We will have that checked and we will take action if there are prices that aren’t compliant. Not only for alcohol, but also for other products,” he said.
The governor issued Executive Order (EO) No. 128 on May 31, placing the province under MGCQ effective June 1.
According to Defensor, the MGCQ EO is based on national laws, issuances by national government agencies, ordinances passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and previous EOs on the GCQ and the Enhanced CQ.
The MGCQ, GCQ, and ECQ were implemented in the province in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the country and worldwide.
OTHER MGCQ GUIDELINES
Defensor also clarified other provisions of the MGCQ, saying that it now allows further movement of people, with certain restrictions.
He said that the province’s curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. is still in effect.
“The [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’] guidelines required for curfew ordinances, and we now have a curfew ordinance by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, which we will level off with,” he said.
The governor also said that public events will now be allowed, but only at 50 percent capacity and physical distancing practices to be followed.
He also said that in compliance with the Department of Transportation’s rules, back-riding on motorcycles is still banned in the province.
He called on residents to continue observing protocols while COVID-19 is still in the country.
“Just because we are already in [MGCQ], does not mean the problem has ended. We are still confronting the problem [of COVID-19]. Our most important measure is that of social distancing. We will keep going at our ‘3M’ policy against COVID-19, Mag-maskara, Mag-distansya, kag Manginaw. We are asking for everyone’s continued cooperation at this time,” he said.
Data from the Department of Health indicated that as of May 31, Iloilo province has had 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with one active case, 15 recoveries, and four deaths.
