COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa imposes liquor ban for all levels of community quarantine, stricter QPass system
In a bid to slow down the transmission of COVID-19 in the city, the City Government of Muntinlupa will be enforcing a liquor ban during all levels of community quarantine and stricter home quarantine pass system.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi approved City Ordinance 2020-111 ordering a city-wide liquor ban for the duration of all levels of community quarantine as determined by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
This initiative aims to prevent gathering opportunities of city residents and minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Under the local ordinance, sale, trade, delivery, and consumption of liquor and other alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Muntinlupa City with a penalty of P5,000.00, suspension or revocation of business permits, and one year imprisonment for violating establishments.
Individuals who will consume liquor during the ban will be meted with P500.00 for first offense, P1,000.00 for second offense, and P2,000.00 for third and subsequent offenses. While violators who are minors, charges shall be fined against their parents or guardians: stern warning for first offense, withdrawal of scholarship grants from the City Government or P500.00 (non-grantee) for second offense, and P1,000.00 for third and subsequent offenses.
Muntinupa City Council Majority Floor Leader Coun. Raul Corro said the liquor ban will only be lifted if the city is no longer under any community quarantine. He noted that the City Council decided to impose stricter regulation on alcoholic beverages because many residents still violate quarantine and health protocols despite the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases.
Corro added that the measure also responds to the call of the national government and medical frontliners for stricter home quarantine measures.
Members of PNP Muntinlupa, Public Order and Safety Office, City Security Office, Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau, Business Permits and Licensing Office, and Barangay Chairpersons shall take the lead in enforcing the liquor ban. Local homeowners’ associations, including security guards, will also be deputized to augment operations.
Further, the City Council has also passed ordinances imposing tougher implementation of home quarantine pass system and curfew hours during the Enhanced and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine.
Qpass holders in the city are required to bring a government-issued ID for verification and can only purchase essential goods from 6:00AM to 12:00PM. Establishments and Homeowners Associations are mandated to inspect quarantine passes from persons entering or exiting their premises. Violators of the Qpass system may face penalties of up to P1,000.00.
Curfew hours in Muntinlupa during ECQ and MECQ have been reverted to 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. Authorized Persons Outside their Residence (APOR) and other individuals determined by the Joint Task Force COVID Shield are exempted from the curfew.
Curfew violators may face penalties of up to P1,000.00 and withdrawal of scholarship grants from the City Government for minor violators.
As of August 6, Muntinlupa City has 1,849 confirmed cases with 1,035 recoveries, 736 active cases, 78 reported deaths, 971 suspect cases, and 726 probable cases.
+++++
Key references: 2020-111 Liquor Ban 2020-112 Quarantine Pass
Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, no distorted views and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Author Carlo Carrasco 