Beerhouses, nightclubs, and cockpits are still not allowed to operate under any form of community quarantine, the latest resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases showed.
Based on IATF Resolution No. 56, all establishments whose primary business is the serving of alcoholic drinks shall remain prohibited even in areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
These establishments have long been prohibited ever since the lockdown was declared in March.
However, in a text message, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the provision was included in the recent resolution “to stress” that these are still not allowed even though the government is slowly opening up the economy and that the liquor ban in many places in the country has been lifted.
He added that there was also no recommendation to allow the reopening of cockpits, beerhouses, nightclubs, and other similar establishments.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in its Memorandum Circular No. 20-22, Series of 2020 released last May, has classified beerhouses and nightclubs under Category IV industries or the industries that are not allowed to operate during the lockdown.
Among businesses originally under Category IV include personal care, fitness and sports facilities, places of entertainment, leisure, and amusement, and tourism.
However, the IATF omnibus guidelines on the implementation of the different forms of community quarantine have allowed the DTI to gradually recategorize industries from Category IV to Category III as may be deemed necessary.
“The resumption of, or gradual increase in operating capacity, and continued operations of Category III industries shall be subject to their proprietors’ compliance with the proper health protocols set by the DTI,” the guidelines said.
The IATF has allowed the reopening of barbershops and salons in June while early this month, it approved DTI’s recommendation to allow travel agencies to resume operations in areas under the GCQ to do administrative works such as processing of refunds and payment to suppliers.
The body had also allowed outdoor non-contact sports and sports and exercise facilities to resume operations but spectators in said activities are still prohibited.
According to Roque, the recent actions of the IATF are in compliance with the directive to ensure the increase of the capacities of the business sector to complement the available transportation to revitalize the economy in Metro Manila and Region 4-A. (Argyll Geducos)
