Reports on serving of alcohol in restos ‘partly false’, protocol chief says

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The head of the Iloilo City government task force in charge of implementing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response protocols said on Friday that media reports on establishments serving drinks before the lifting of liquor-related regulations on Thursday were not completely true.

Before Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas partially lifted the prohibition on public consumption of alcohol, several media outlets in the city reported that some prominent establishments in Mandurriao district had already been serving alcoholic drinks to customers.

But Iloilo City Compliance Team head Nestor Canong told Aksyon Radyo Iloilo that those reports were “partly true and partly incorrect”, based on their own observation and their conversation with an establishment manager.

He said that the managers fully understood the city government’s rule on catering to fully vaccinated persons only.

“When we arrived, there was no guard because he was actually sent out on an errand by their manager, and his spot was empty, that was why there was no inspection. But when their customers sat down, vaccination cards and IDs were being asked, because that was the protocol laid down to them,” Canong narrated.

He added that other surrounding establishments, including small bar houses, were being inspected by the Compliance Team.

“The report was correct in saying that there were lapses, that is why we spoke to the managers and owners, and they promised to strictly follow our rules. Customers cannot be served until they can show their vaccination cards and their IDs,” he said.

Under Executive Order No. 137-A, issued by Treñas on Thursday, establishments serving alcoholic drinks shall have only 50 percent indoor and 70 percent outdoor capacity, and may only allow fully vaccinated persons inside their premises.

The EO also allowed the unhampered sale of alcoholic drinks in stores and markets.