Can 'Restobars' Operate 24 Hours? Best to Clear with Local Officials

Restobars, those restaurant and bar hybrids, are encouraged to seek guidance from their respective local government units to check if they can operate for 24 hours, the trade department chief said Wednesday.

“Yung gray area o alanganin, kumuha na lang ng clearance para sigurado po sila (The gray area or those who aren’t sure, get clearance so you’re sure.),” Trade Sec. Ramon Lopez told Teleradyo.

Under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Memorandum Circular 20-52, restaurants and food establishments can increase their operating capacities and resume dine-in operations along with 24-hour operations in order to service more customers, even during odd times. The same memo prohibits so-called beer houses.

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“Yung aming memo circular referring to dine-in. Kung restobar baka na-mistake nila for inuman kaya importante sa mga ganung establisyimento makipag-ugnayan sa local government para malinawan ang kanilang role kung sila ay papayagan,” dagdag niya.

(Our memo circular was referring to dine-in. If you’re running a restobar, they might mistake it for drinking only that’s why it’s important for such establishments to coordinate with the local government to clarify if they’re allowed to operate.)