No prohibition from IATF on liquor retail—DTI

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases did not issue any prohibition on the selling of liquor, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Wednesday.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said the ban on liquor retail was solely imposed by local government units (LGU).

“Yung pagdistribute po, at least as far as IATF is concerned, wala naman po kaming inisyung pag-ban ng mga alcoholic beverages. So, yun po, I think isang mga polisiya na pinpairal naman ng iba’t ibang LGUs,” Lopez said in an online briefing.

(In terms of distribution, as far as IATF is concerned, we did not issue any ban on alcoholic beverages. I think that is among the policies being implemented by the LGUs.)

“Pero sa IATF po, pagdating sa retailing, wala po tayong pinipigilan [But the IATF is not stopping its retailing],” he added.

Lopez reiterated that manufacturing of liquor and alcoholic beverages is not allowed in areas under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), but allowed in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).

“Sa ECQ, during the ECQ, yung manufacturing po ng mga liquor, alcoholic drinks ay bawal. Under GCQ ay allowed na po lahat ng manufacturing,” he said.

(During the ECQ, the manufacturing of liquor and alcoholic drinks is not allowed. Under GCQ, all manufacturing is allowed.)

Earlier, local liquor companies asked the government to lift the restrictions on alcoholic beverages, saying the industry ‘can no longer survive’ if the ban continues.

The ECQ was extended until May 15 in Metro Manila and several other areas “high-risk” for the coronavirus transmission.

Meanwhile, areas that are “low-risk” were placed under GCQ wherein partial reopening of non-leisure shops and other businesses are allowed.

JPV