THE alcoholic beverage industry has asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ease the restrictions on the purchase and sale of alcoholic beverages to a partial ban from the current total ban.
Gerry Tee, chairman of the Center for Alcohol Research and Development Foundation Inc. (CARD) in a letter suggested to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez to set restrictions on what time alcohol can be sold.
Tee said the total ban on liquor during the enhanced community quarantine has driven out the industry from the market, and unduly forfeits the capital which had already been invested in the products already produced and bottled for distribution to the market but were prohibited for sale.
“ If this ban continues, the Industry can no longer survive; a situation that can affect a large sector of the community,” Tee said.
Tee said an alcohol manufacturing company employs some 600 to 700 employees, consisting of professionals, skilled laborers and workers.
The industry indirectly supports the farmers, as it is one of the major markets of agricultural products to include sugarcane, coconut and corn, which are used as raw materials in the production of alcoholic beverages.
“All these sectors will be displaced given the possibility of closure of the industry, due to the total ban imposed upon the sale and purchase of alcoholic beverages,” CARD said.
