Manila cancels Chinese New Year activities in Binondo

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno pleads: We are asking the Filipino-Chinese community not to allow dragon dances and firecrackers.

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Manila has ordered the cancellation of all Chinese New Year activities in Binondo.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, in a Facebook live on Tuesday, announced the signing of Executive Order No. 11 “canceling all activities in relation to the celebration of the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year in the entire Binondo Chinatown area.”

The order, Moreno noted, will affect more or less 20 barangays.

“Nakikisuyo tayo sa ating mga kababayang Filipino-Chinese na wala po tayong mga dragon dance, wala po tayong mga paputok or firecrackers,” he said.

(We are asking the Filipino-Chinese community not to allow dragon dances and firecrackers.)

Further, Moreno said the sale of alcoholic drinks is prohibited from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.

“Pinagbabawal din po ang inuman, pagbebenta ng alak simula Jan. 31 to Feb. 1,” he said.

(We are also prohibiting drinking and selling alcohol from Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.)

The Manila mayor called on barangay officials to enforce the executive order and asked the public to comply.

“Nananawagan din tayo sa ating mga barangay official na ipatupad ang minimum health standards at ipatupad ang executive order na ito at para na rin sa kaligtasan ng lahat,” Moreno said.

(We are calling on our barangay officials to enforce minimum health standards and to enforce this executive order because this is for the safety of all.)

Currently, there are 1,513 active COVID-19 cases in Manila, with 147 additional infections reported on Monday, according to Moreno.

abc