Metro Manila mayors may appeal IATF decision to reopen cinemas

(RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER)

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors may appeal the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF) decision to reopen cinemas in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) status as this did not go through “proper consultation.” 

 “Ang isang napansin lang po namin dito ay tungkol sa sinehan kasi hindi po nagkaroon ng proper consultation po tungkol po sa specifics tungkol sa sinehan,” Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who is also the chairman of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), said in an interview on radio station DZBB. 

 (What we noticed here is the reopening of cinemas because this did not go through proper consultation, about the specifics.) 

 “Alam naman po natin ang sinehan, enclosed po yan at mahigit po na isang oras sa gathering ng sa enclosed at air-conditioned,” he added. 

 (Cinemas are enclosed, and you spend more than one hour in an enclosed and air-conditioned area.) 

 “Magkakaroon po kami ng reservations, baka mag-appeal po kami sa IATF regarding po dito sa pagbubukas ng sinehan,” he said. 

 (We have reservations about this and we may appeal to the IATF regarding the reopening of cinemas.) 

 On Friday, Malacañang announced that the IATF has allowed the reopening of more businesses like cinemas, museums, driving schools, libraries and tourist attractions such as theme parks in GCQ areas. 

Arcade reopening issues

Aside from the reopening of cinemas, Olivarez said that the MMC is likewise apprehensive on the reopening of video and inter-active arcades. 

 “’Yan po yung isa pa naming apprehension, kasi halos dikit-dikit po yan at enclosed ‘yun. At alam po natin na hindi pa po pinapayagan ang mga bata para po lumabas,” he said. 

 (That is also one of our apprehensions, because people can get too close and that’s an enclosed area. We also know that children are still are not allowed to go outside.) 

(INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)

 Currently, the IATF has allowed persons aged 15 to 65 years old to step out of their residence.

However, all cities in Metro Manila, which is still currently under GCQ status, have not allowed individuals aged below 18 years old into malls and have also barred minors from leaving their homes for leisure purposes

 But according to Olivarez, the MMC may recommend easing of age restrictions in Metro Manila to 15 to 65 years old. 

 “Yung recommendation po namin dito sa IATF, pwede na po ibaba sa 15 to 65, puwera kung essential, kung pupunta sa ospital, sa checkup, sa dentista,” he said. 

 (Our recommendation to the IATF is to lower the age restrictions to 15 to 65 [years old] as long as if its for essential purposes such as going to the hospital to the dentist.) 

 gsg