Davao COVID-19 TF calls on Dabawenyos to be disciplined, socially responsible in going to bars

A Davao City health official called on Dabawenyos to be disciplined and socially responsible in conducting themselves as they go to bars, amid the lifting of the modified liquor ban, to prevent another Supladoz incident that may pose a possible risk of massive COVID-19 transmission.

Davao City COVID-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser was referring to the mass gathering at Supladoz Restobar along Ilustre Street, where most customers were seen partying, dancing, and drinking – as seen on uploaded photos and videos on social media – without strictly complying with the mandatory wearing of face mask and social distancing.

“It’s not about the liquor ban, it’s how people conduct themselves. Ang uban wala man nag-inom, nag-party man gyud sila. Maski pa naa’y liquor ban or wala’y liquor ban, kung ingon ato ka undisciplined ang mga tao, we will repeat the history of a surge. Kasi pwede man ta mag-inom sa atong panimalay, wala man problema (Others there did not even drink, they were there to party. With or without the liquor ban, if people are undisciplined like most of those who were there in the bar, we will repeat the history of a surge. We can drink liquor within the confines of our homes, that’s not a problem),” she said in a Viber interview with the City Information Office (CIO) on Monday, February 21, 2022.

The City Government of Davao lifted the modified liquor ban on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, through Executive Order (EO) No. 5 Series of 2022, also known as “An Order Providing For The Lifting Of The Modified Liquor Ban in Davao City” that was signed on Monday, February 14, 2022.

This ended the prohibition on the serving of liquor in restaurants, bars, videokes, hotels, and all other establishments open to the public. However, the ban on drinking liquor in parks, roads, streets, alleys, pathways, and similar areas remains.

The city health official said the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force has not discussed the possibility of reimposing the liquor ban following the Supladoz incident, considering that the city government is balancing the need for the economy to recover while keeping people safe amid the pandemic.

Dr. Schlosser said, “Wala ma’y problema ang muinom ka (It’s not a problem when you drink). There’s no problem with you drinking, of course in moderation because anything in excess is dangerous to your health. There’s nothing wrong with social drinking but when you’re social drinking and violating the minimum public health standards, that’s another story.”

She said that Dabawenyos, want to return to their normal lives but it can’t be done in haste since the COVID-19 pandemic is still very much existent.

“Dili lang unta sarili nato or gratification lang nato atong isipon. Kasi that night, when you partied and you had fun, that night was gratifying. But only for one night, we will be suffering for a month and more months of surges, isipon lang na ninyo (We should not just think about self-gratification. That night when you partied and you had fun, that night was gratifying. But only for one night, we will be suffering for a month and more months of surges, just think about it),” she added.

Davao City was recently placed under alert level 2 status following the downtrend of COVID-19 cases after the Omicron-variant surge in mid-January to mid-February when daily active cases ranged from hundreds to over a thousand.

Meanwhile, the City Government of Davao will file cases against the owner of Supladoz for illegally operating and for violating COVID-19 protocols such as the implementation of the minimum public health standards (MPHS) and use of the Safe DQR scanning for its clients who entered the establishment.

The Business Bureau also issued a cease and desist order against the establishment while citation tickets were also issued against MPHS violators inside the restobar. CIO