MANILA, Philippines—Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino welcomed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision to extend the nationwide liquor ban for the coming elections from two to five days.
From its previous start on May 12, the liquor ban will now commence on May 9 and will end on May 13, according to a Comelec en banc decision.
“We at the MMDA would like to thank the Comelec for taking into consideration our proposal and for seeing its merits,” Tolentino said.
MMDA earlier filed a petition asking the elections body to simultaneously enforce the liquor ban with the election gun ban that started last January 13, not only to reduce road accidents caused by drunk driving due to the proliferation of free alcoholic beverages during the election campaign period, but to reduce election-related violence as well.
While the original petition was not approved, Tolentino said the extended liquor ban is a good step to help reduce road accidents, electoral violence for “a more sober and meaningful discussion of electoral issues.”