Davao City implements longer curfew hours, liquor ban

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte extended the curfew hours in the city from the previous 9 pm to 5 am to 7 pm to 5 am starting Thursday, October 15, 2020.

The mayor also imposed a liquor ban from 7 pm to 5 am through Executive Order 55.

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Drinking in public places like roads, alleys, open spaces, and other similar places at any given time are no longer allowed.

Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, cited the longer curfew hours and liquor ban were to fight the COVID-19 transmission in the city.

“This is based on interviews of confirmed COVID-19 patients. We have seen their movement and deemed it necessary to regulate the non-essential activities of the people,” she said on Davao City Disaster Radio.

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Mayor Duterte also said the number of beds for COVID-19 patients in the Davao-based Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is already critical.

Curfew hours in Davao City were initially eased to 9 pm to 5 am on July 31 when the city shifted to modified general community quarantine protocol.

Mayor Duterte also asked offices, business establishments, worship places, and other institutions to adjust their operating hours.

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Those who were stopped in checkpoints or frisked on the streets would need to present their company ID operating within the curfew hours.

Mayor Duterte also ordered the City Transport and Traffic Management Office to assist passengers stranded during the curfew hours.

Davao City implements longer curfew hours, liquor ban

The longer curfew in Davao City, however, exempts the following:

  • all government workers who are on duty during curfew hours;
  • private offices and establishments employees who time in and time out of work within the curfew hours (this shall mean to include their travel to and from their residence);
  • medical doctors and veterinarians who need to work;
  • workers of public utility companies (energy, water, internet, etc.) conducting construction, maintenance, or emergency activities;
  • subsistence and business fishing activities (their vessels are subject to lawful inspection by the Maritime Police, Task Force Davao, Navy or Coast Guard, if there is a reasonable belief that there is illegal activity or unlawful materials in the vessel);
  • individuals attending the wake of a family member; and
  • medical, emergency, and disaster cases.

Davao City also prohibited videoke and karaoke from 10 pm to 5 am every day.