Bars not allowed to open under GCQ, DTI's Lopez clarifies

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez clarified Monday that bars are still not allowed to open under the general community quarantine.

“Bars are not allowed under GCQ. But, its restaurant dining function (can open) up to 9 p.m.,” Lopez said in a text message to GMA News reporter Jonathan Andal.

Resolution 48 of Inter-agency Task for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, approved on June 22, states that “restaurants, cafes, and bars are hereby allowed to operate at 30% operational capacity provided that venue capacity allows for social distancing protocols and that such establishments are compliant with proper protocols prescribed by the DTI.”

Lopez said the IATF resolution has already been clarified.

He was asked of the matter after the arrest of actor and TV host KC Montero and 100 others who were inside a bar and restaurant in Makati City on Sunday night.

The police claimed the arrested people violated social distancing protocols but Montero insisted that they observed quarantine measures.

"I think para sa mga tao na papunta diyan, I think what they thought was it was open. So you’re allowed to go. And on top of that everybody was practicing social distancing. The tables were wide apart, were far apart," Montero told reporters.—AOL, GMA News