KidZania closes

MANILA, Philippines — KidZania Manila will not be opening its doors in the future as its franchisee, Play Innovations Inc., decided to permanently stop operations.

ABS-CBN said in a stock exchange filing yesterday Play Innovations has decided to cease the operations of KidZania Manila effective Aug. 31 after five years of providing a learning experience for children.

“Our hearts go out to our employees. We are doing everything we can to aid them at this time of uncertainty, including paying out severance benefits as mandated by law and providing job placement programs for them. We appreciate all their hard work,” Play Innovations said.

“We are also grateful to our industry partners and the schools and families who have trusted us over the years,” it said.

Play Innovations last March filed a temporary suspension of operations with the Department of Labor and Employment effective June 16 to Aug. 15 as the successive extensions of the quarantine have adversely affected the company.

KidZania Manila, which provides a learning experience for children ages four to 17, has been closed since March 11 as part of safety measures in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing community quarantine, we have complied and suspended operations to prevent the further spread of the virus, which resulted to a massive impact on our revenues,” Play Innovations said.

“Even if we are allowed to operate in the future, the new normal will prohibit mass gathering and require children to remain at home. These conditions have left us with no choice but to close the play city’s doors permanently,” it said.

ACJ for the past seven years has been offering Filipinos TV shopping convenience and making quality products affordable via the O Shopping Channel.

ABS-CBN went off the air on May 5 in compliance with a cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission following the expiration of the network’s franchise.

Last July 10, the House committee on legislative franchises denied the network’s bid for a new franchise.