CEBU City Mayor Edgardo Labella will lift the liquor ban in Cebu City starting Friday, May 7, 2021, after more than three months of reimposing it following a surge in Covid-19 cases in the city.
During his press conference on Tuesday, May 4, Labella announced that he will issue an executive order to lift the ban.
Labella said he will make the move after receiving a request from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which sought the mayor’s help in reviving businesses, including restaurants and joints that serve beer and other alcoholic beverages.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and city health officials also recommended in favor of lifting the ban.
For its part, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is preparing for the lifting of the ban as it does not want establishments that serve liquor to be crowded.
CCPO Deputy Director for Operations Wilbert Parilla said they will ensure that the establishments will not be crowded and the drinkers observe the social distancing protocol.
He said drinking by the roadside is still prohibited.
The curfew in the city still starts at 11 p.m. and ends at 5 a.m.
This means if an establishment is serving liquor and there are still drinkers well beyond the start of the curfew, its owner and customers will face penalties. The owner will also risk losing his business permit and license to sell liquor.
Parilla said it would be better for establishments to close 30 minutes before the curfew starts to give enough time for their customers to leave and not get caught in the streets.
The police official urged business owners to follow the guidelines that will be laid out in the executive order that will be issued by Labella.