(File Photo) Shoppers wear face masks and face shield on a mall in Manila. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — Only those aged 15 to 65 years old will be allowed to enter shopping malls in Cavite, Governor Jonvic Remulla clarified on Friday as he apologized for making an earlier announcement on the age bracket permitted to enter these establishments.
The governor issued the clarification after earlier saying that minors aged 10 and above will be allowed inside malls as long as they are accompanied by their parents or guardians. He also said that senior citizens, or those aged 60 and above, may enter malls even without a companion.
“First of all, allow me to sincerely apologize as I take full responsibility for my announcement of the new mall policy last Dec 2 & 3,” he said in a Facebook post.
“As of today December 4, only those ages 15 to 65 years old shall be permitted to enter the mall premises and mall hours shall remain the same,” he added.
Remulla explained that he initially allowed a lower age bracket in malls after reading in news reports that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has allowed minors aged 15 and below and accompanied by their parents to enter shopping malls.
However, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año later said that minors are still prohibited from entering malls until local government units come up with their respective resolutions or ordinances.
“I was wrong to be too enthusiastic in the resumption of personal freedom for the people of Cavite. I take full responsibility and I apologize,” Remulla said.
He said that even if the rate of COVID-19 infection in Cavite has slowed down, the provincial government still has to follow the policies of the national government.
“Again, my apologies for such haste. I commit to being more prudent next time,” Remulla said.