Senior citizens in workforce, living alone may go out in MECQ areas – Malacañang

MANILA, Philippines — Senior citizens who are still in the workforce and live alone are allowed to leave their homes in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said seniors shall present their employment IDs when going out. Senior citizens without companions at home can also go out to buy basic necessities.

“At pagdating naman po doon sa exemptions siyempre even if it is Modified ECQ, seniors can go out kung wala silang kasama to get their necessities as well as kung sila ay nagtatrabaho ipakita po nila iyong employment ID nila,” Roque said during an online Palace briefing.

(When it comes to exemptions, under modified ECQ, seniors can go out to get their necessities if they don’t have companions and if they are working, they may present their employment ID.)

Under modified ECQ regulations earlier announced, several businesses are allowed to resume partially by employing 50 percent of their workforces on-site, while the other 50 percent works from home.

Starting May 16, Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City are under MECQ. The government’s chief implementer of its COVID-19 efforts Carlito Galvez said senior citizens may also go out to exercise.

“Sa ngayon pa lang muna, sa MCQ, sa Modified ECQ…puwede silang makapaglakad – makapag-walking, makapag-biking and so forth and so on,” Galvez said.

(For now, under MECQ, they may walk outside, go biking, and so forth and so on.)

Under MECQ, limited outdoor exercises like jogging and cycling and non-contact sports like golf and tennis are allowed.