MANILA – Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday urged local government units in Metro Manila and other areas under general community quarantine to draft unified guidelines for allowing minors to enter malls.
“Sinabi natin na kailangan parehas ‘yung implementation ng lahat ng mga mayors sa buong Metro Manila (We told them to have the same implementation from all the mayors in Metro Manila),” Año said in a television interview.
He said the mayors are still divided on their stand regarding the implementation but hoped that a consensus would be reached soon.
“Ang maganda kasi diyan sa MMC (Metro Manila Council) kapagka magkakasalungat ‘yung kanilang mga stand at nag-adopt sila ng common resolution even by majority vote. Sumusunod sila sa lahat, ‘yun ang ini-implement nila (The good thing with the MMC is that even if they have different views, they adopt a common resolution by majority vote. They follow it and that’s what they implement),” Año said.
Año also agreed to the statement of National Capital Region Police Office chief Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. who expressed apprehension in allowing children to go to the malls.
“Tama naman yung sinabi ni Gen. Danao. Kung hanggat maaari ay mababawasan natin yung mga taong lalabas okay naman ‘yun (That’s right. If we can lessen the number of persons going out, that’s okay),” he said.
The Inter-Agency Task Force earlier allowed 15 to 65 years old to go out as the quarantine rules were eased as part of the preparation for the new normal.
In Metro Manila, the GCQ status will remain until the end of the year. The provinces of Davao del Norte, Batangas, and Lanao del Sur, and cities of Iloilo, Tacloban, Iligan, and Davao will remain under general community quarantine until Dec. 31.
All other places in the country will be under the most relaxed modified GCQ.
Under current guidelines in GCQ areas, a person below 15 years old and those above 65 years old, with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women must remain indoors at all times, except when obtaining essential goods and services.