A family spends time together in a big shopping mall in Quezon City on Saturday, November 6, 2021. The government’s pandemic task force has placed the entire Metro Manila under COVID-19 Alert Level 2, allowing minors inside malls, since November 5. INQUIRER.net file photo / Katherine G. Adraneda
MANILA, Philippines — Several local government units (LGUs) are now crafting ordinances that will limit the movement of minors in public areas to avoid COVID-19 infection, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Wednesday.
“So, si Secretary [Eduardo] Año po ay kinausap na ang mga mayor at sila ay inatasan na pag-aralan na po itong bagay na ito,” he said.
(Secretary Año already talked to mayors and mandated them to study this matter.)
“So, suportado po natin ‘yan at marami na pong mga LGUs ang nagbabalangkas po ng kanilang mga ordinansa. Ngunit, mayroon pong iba na mayroon na pong executive order,” he said.
(We support that and many LGUs are already crafting ordinances. Although there are some that already have an executive order.)
This developed after President Rodrigo Duterte urged LGUs to pass ordinances barring children aged 12 and below from public spaces as they are still unvaccinated against COVID-19.
According to Malaya, Parañaque City released an executive order, clarifying that 12- to 17-year-olds are only allowed in malls, shopping centers, and similar establishments if they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.
As for minors aged 11 and under, the Parañaque City government directive says they could only go to outdoor or alfresco areas accompanied by fully vaccinated adults.
Malaya, however, noted that the ordinance is still pending approval and discussion in the local government.
The DILG official also disclosed that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has formed a technical working group to look into the current policy on allowing children outside.
“Ayon po kay Chairman [Benhur] Abalos ng MMDA, mayroon na po silang technical working group, composed of the various city health officers, para pag-aralan kung babaguhin ba ‘yung polisiya on minors entering malls, shopping centers, and similar establishments,” he said.
(According to MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, they have a technical working group, composed of the various city health officers, to study if they will change the policy on minors entering malls, shopping centers, and similar establishments.)
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