Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has issued an executive order (EO) prohibiting all dining establishments in the province of Iloilo from selling or serving liquor.
Under EO No. 183-H, which took effect on Wednesday, Dec. 16, “alcoholic drinks or beverages, such as, but not limited to whisky, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, cocktail, wine, champagne, beer and such other intoxicating drinks are not allowed to be sold and/or served in restaurants, fast food chains, and food stalls.”
Sing-along, karaoke and/or videoke are also banned.
“In order to minimize, if not eliminate exposure of citizens, and prevent the surge of COVID-19 during the Christmas and New Year holidays, there is a need to further amend EO 183, as amended, to implement additional and adjusted community quarantine measures on the management of restaurants, fast food chains, and food stalls,” the EO stated.
Food and beverage outlets in the province are allowed to open at 75 percent of seating capacity, and a maximum of operating hours up to 11 p.m.
The provincial government also prohibits the holding of Christmas parties, receptions, celebrations and other public events and gatherings in social halls, function rooms, cottages, and other ancillary facilities of beach resorts, inland resorts water parks, amusement parks, ecological parks, and other establishments in the tourism and recreational industry.
The province is currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). As of Friday, Dec. 18, it recorded a total of 2,844 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 2,573 have recovered and 98 have died.IMT
