Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella in a presscon at the City Hall on April 21, 2021. | Delta Letigio
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City government continues to study the possibility of lifting the liquor ban and reopening all jeepney routes.
However, Mayor Edgardo Labella said that for now the liquor ban and the jeepney routes will remain under status quo.
For the mayor, the liquor ban has been instrumental in reducing the active cases in the city, and keeping it is expected to help continue the downward trend of the cases.
“Dako kaayog tabang atong liquor ban. Gawas sa makita pa nato nga moubos pa gyod atong cases, karon man gud fluctuating pa ang cases, ato sang tan-awon,” said the mayor.
The implementation of the liquor ban is credited for reducing the number of quarantine violators since the public has no more reason to stay out after the curfew.
The liquor ban also prevented social gatherings, which in turn helped reduce the transmission among groups.
As for the jeepney routes, the Jeepney Task Force headed by Councilor James Cuenco has been pushing for the return of all jeepney routes to respond to the growing demand for public transport.
The councilor has rewritten to the mayor as another appeal to reopen the routes.
“A serviceable public transportation is a must with the easing of restrictions and opening of majority of the business establishments in the city,” said Cuenco.
Labella said this has to be studied because the traditional jeepneys are needed by the public but at the same also poses a risk in the transmission of the virus.
He said he is willing to consider the reopening of all routes soon as long as all jeepney operators commit to the implementation of health protocols.
However, for now, the request needs further study and consideration.
While the cases in the city are still fluctuating, the mayor said they will keep the current restrictions. When the time comes that the cases have dropped and remained low for some time, then he promised to lift some of these restrictions. /rcg