Navotas lifts liquor ban 

The liquor ban in Navotas City which was imposed nine months ago to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was lifted on Monday as the local government said the city’s virus cases have become “manageable”, according to a report by Manila Bulletin.

Mayor Toby Tiangco made the announcement in a Facebook post and said, “this was based on our agreement that we would lift the ban if the number of our COVID-19 cases would not spike after the Christmas season.”

“Bagaman tumaas po nang bahagya ang ating mga kaso, kaya pa rin po natin itong makontrol (While we saw a slight increase in our COVID-19 cases, we can still control the situation),” he said.

In April, 2020, the local government prohibited the sale, purchase, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the city, which took effect during the period of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

While most Metro Manila cities already lifted the ban after the relaxing of quarantine rules by the end of May, Navotas kept the liquor ban in effect.

Tiangco said, “some constituents remain stubborn and continue to challenge the practice of social distancing and rules on home quarantine” and that they think “drinking sessions among neighbors are a harmless way of passing time.”

Despite the lifting of the ban, the mayor said drinking sessions should be conducted indoors as “drinking in public places is still prohibited under Municipal Ordinance No. 2002-06.”