REUTERS via The Straits Times/Asia News Network
MANILA, Philippines — Majority of Metro Manila mayors oppose the easing of quarantine age restriction that will allow individuals aged 10 to 65 years old to step out of their residence amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Metro Manila Council (MMC) chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said.
“Do’n po sa amin pong consensus sa isang meeting po namin, halos lahat po kami ay hindi po sumasangayon yung relaxing this age bracket,” Olivarez said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.
(On one of our meetings, almost all of us are not in favor of relaxing the age restriction.)
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) earlier approved the relaxation of mobility restrictions for people age 10 to 65 in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting Feb. 1.
Under the IATF’s previous policy, only individuals aged 15 to 65 years old are allowed outside their residence.
“Do’n po sa pronouncement po ni Sec. Harry Roque, dun po sa mga MGCQ, sila po ay in-adjust po yung kanila pong age bracket, authorized persons outside residence, that is from 10 to 65,” Olivarez said.
(In Sec. Harry Roque’s pronouncement, in areas areas under MGCQ, the age bracket has been adjusted to 10 years old to 65 years old.)
“Ang Metro Manila is under GCQ, so hinayaan po ng atin pong IATF na mag-assess po yung ating mga LGU all over Metro Manila kung papayagang mag-relax yung age,” he added.
(Metro Manila is under GCQ, so the IATF allowed us to assess if we would allow the same easing of age restriction.)
Olivarez said they consulted pediatricians regarding the easing of age restriction.
“Do’n po sa kanilang ibinigay, talaga pong hindi po advisable na ibaba po yung ating age bracket,” he said.
(In their recommendation, it was not really advisable to lower the age bracket.)
The MMC, nevertheless, will conduct a meeting Tuesday night to discuss its recommendation to the IATF, Olivarez said.
“Magkakaroon po ng meeting ang Metro Manila Council tomorrow night…we will decide on our recommendation to IATF,” he added.
(The Metro Manila Council will convene tomorrow night, we will decide on our recommendation to the IATF.)
All cities in Metro Manila, which is still under GCQ, have not allowed children aged below 18 years old into malls and have also barred minors from leaving their homes for leisure purposes.