TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez appealed for the cooperation and understanding of liquor makers on the ongoing ban on the sale of liquor imposed by local government units (LGUs).
Lopez in a letter-response to Gerardo Tee, chairman of the Center for Alcohol Research and Development Foundation said liquor is not part of the sectors allowed to continue for production during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
But Lopez clarified the ban is being imposed in conjunction with the directives by Inter-Agency Task Force against Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) and Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular (MC) 20-08 to limit the movement of people to stop the spread of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the ECQ.
But Lopez clarified the IATF and the MC pertain to the permitted manufacturing of basic food and essential products and the value chain thereof and which limited the coverage to very essential products that the people cannot live without.
“ It is unfortunate that your sector is not part of the permitted sector,” Lopez said.
He added: “We would like to further clarify that the directive concerning the permitted establishments covers the manufacturing operations and not the selling of these products from the retailers. Products that are in the supermarkets and retail stores and the movement of cargoes have not been prohibited by the IATF nor any of the agencies thereof,” Lopez said in April 7, 2020 letter.
CARD earlier sought for the easing of the ban, by allowing the sale of liquor on certain times of the day.
“We thank you for your understanding, recognizing as well that the end of the ECQ is just a few days away,” LOpez added.
