Magalong not inclined to lift liquor ban in Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong is not inclined to lift the prevailing liquor ban in the city.

Magalong said he had been receiving numerous calls from concerned residents for the possible lifting of the existing liquor ban.

But he said he was not inclined to grant their request because the ban has significantly contributed to the efforts of the local government to reduce unnecessary gatherings in the barangays that might serve as an avenue for the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

He said that the decision of the local government to impose the citywide liquor ban was a result of calls from concerned sectors to prevent small group gatherings in the different parts of the city, and guarantee that most of the residents will comply with the prevailing policy for them to stay at home.

It was also noted that liquor was not among the essential goods that should be sold in the different establishments.

Magalong stated that there was no decision yet on when the liquor ban will be lifted despite the impending lapse of the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which could be downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ) by May 15.

Earlier, the local legislative body passed a resolution calling for the immediate imposition of liquor ban in the city following observations from concerned residents on the presence of unnecessary drinking sessions in sari-sari stores in the barangays that serve as a venue for the possible transmission of the deadly virus.

Subsequently, Magalong issued an order for the imposition of the citywide liquor ban until such time that the ECQ will be lifted because of the possible threat of the spread of the illness in the city.