The Department of the Interior and Local Government, anxious about social distancing measures in areas for essential services, has asked local government units to remove window hours for market and grocery trips during the lockdown.
In an April 18 advisory, the DILG discouraged LGUs from imposing a "narrow or limited window period" on the access to supermarkets, wet markets, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
"The imposition of such restrictions further creates congestion of people who flock to these establishments at the same time, and poses risks on the implementation of social distancing," the DILG said.
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At the same time, Malacanang said there was no need to declare a liquor ban in the country because of the ECQ following the COVID outbreak since many local government units had passed resolutions prohibiting liquor in their respective localities.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the national government did not impose a liquor ban right after declaring the lockdown, but was imposed by mayors to prevent further violence that might arise during ECQ.
In a related development, the DILG said Monday barangay leaders should post lists of cash aid beneficiaries to ensure transparency during the lockdown, which millions to stay home.
Lists of recipients should be placed in "strategic areas" within the barangay so that residents could say if they were left out, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.
The "strategic areas" include the barangay hall, city or municipal hall, social center, gymnasium, auditorium, transport terminal, public market, health center, hospital, and other similar public places, the DILG chief said.
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But DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya told ABS-CBN News, in an interview beamed nationwide, that the advisory was "subject to adjustments depending on local conditions."
Año previously said window hours should not be imposed by LGUs since that was against the government’s call to observe physical distancing to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
Instead of imposing window hours, the DILG urged local governments to provide schedules for market trips for villages to avoid overcrowding.
Local governments were also asked to find "innovative" ways to bring basic goods closer to the public to further limit their movement as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.
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The measures suggested include online marketing and delivery of goods, community markets in subdivisions, and mobile "palengke" (market) where vehicles with market goods can make rounds in residential communities.
Roque made the announcement after local liquor companies asked the government to lift or ease the restrictions on alcoholic beverages imposed in connection with the Luzon lockdown and allow quarantined Filipinos the “small mercy of a little drink.”
Manila and Quezon cities imposed temporary liquor ban a week after the imposition of Luzon-wide ECQ as residents were caught partying during the lockdown, Roque said during a televised press briefing.
Manila Mayor Francisco ‘’Isko’’ Domagoso and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte were the first local officials to sign executive orders strictly banning the sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks during the country's fight against COVID-19.
The business permits and mayor's permit of businesses who violate the ban will be revoked, the orders said.
Meanwhile, the Center for Alcohol Research and Development Foundation Inc., whose members include Emperador Distillers Inc. and Ginebra San Miguel Inc., appealed to lift the liquor ban or relax certain hours during which stores can sell liquor.
Peace and order concerns arising from people getting drunk while on quarantine had been addressed by the lockdown rules, it said, hence there was no need to keep retailers from selling alcoholic beverages.