Manila bans Chinese New Year activities
February 1, 2021 @ 10:00am
MANILA: Mayor Isko Moreno has banned all activities for the Chinese New Year celebration in the city here because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Philstar.com reported that the move to cancel the festivities was "in order not to put in vain all initiatives the city had already undertaken the entire duration of this pandemic".
Moreno issued Executive Order (EO) No. 4 series of 2021, stating that "no dragon dance, street party, stage show, parade or any other similar activity will be held for the celebration of the Chinese New Year from Feb 11 to 12".
He also banned the sale of liquor in Binondo on the dates mentioned.
He reasoned that the festival cancellation was more compelling due to the threat of the more infectious United Kingdom variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Besides that, the city administration has prohibited the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices during the celebration to ensure public safety.
Moreno reminded all constituents to comply with City Ordinance No. 5555, which prohibits serving or drinking of
alcoholic beverages in public areas, particularly on streets and sidewalks.
"All barangay officials of the city are hereby directed to take the necessary measures to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of this executive order," he said.
On the government's Covid-19 vaccination programme, Moreno said the vaccine was the key for people to return to work and open the economy.
"I want the people to return to work, to comfortably ride on public transport, open all businesses, let the jobless move and children to go back to school.
"Covid-19 vaccination is the key to the opening of the economy," the mayor said in a bid to boost public confidence in the vaccines.