NCR mayors to issue uniform rules on kids outdoors

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors agreed on a uniform policy of allowing minors, aged five and up, to go outside as long as they are under parental supervision.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) told Metro Manila mayors that they have the discretion on whether or not to allow minors outdoors, Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III told The STAR yesterday following a Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting.

But the mayors agreed that it is better to have a uniform policy of allowing minors with their parents in open spaces, Oreta added.

Mayors will identify the areas where minors are allowed to play with their parents, Oreta said.

“Actually that is what the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) is saying, better to have a unified policy as Metro Manila is porous… In the meantime, we should identify possible areas where people might congregate (such as) parks,” Oreta said.

Oreta said preventing minors from going out with their parents amid a pandemic has been a problem of enforcement even before the proposal.

“To me, kids go out at any rate. In fact, that is one of our problems, especially in informal areas. It really depends on the coordination and cooperation of the parents,” Oreta said.

Oreta said the mayors’ “plan” was to come up with a “uniform policy” to allow minors outside.

The council will come up with a resolution to clarify the guidelines, added Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco, who had opposed the easing of age restrictions in the region due to studies that minors are super spreaders of the virus.

But Oreta said both the fears that minors could become silent carriers, as well as their welfare by allowing them to play outside, were considered by the council.

“(But) there is a big difference now due to the vaccines,” Oreta said.

The easing of age restriction in the outdoors is applicable only in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ), except those with heightened restrictions.

The National Capital Region is under GCQ with some restrictions.

Areas under GCQ and MGCQ are allowed to permit kids, aged five and above, to engage in outdoor activities at beaches, parks, playgrounds and such, while accompanied by an adult guardian who should ensure adherence to health protocols.

‘Maximum tolerance’

Police officers have been ordered to be flexible in enforcing the government’s new policy on children, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said he has instructed cops to coordinate with their local government of jurisdiction regarding this policy, with mayors yet to release their  respective guidelines.

Eleazar said police officers were ordered to be flexible in implementation to ensure no abuse of authority.

“It won’t be implemented unreasonably and abusively. This flexibility (order) includes maximum tolerance (and)… we’re saying that mutual respect is needed in implementing the guidelines,” Eleazar said in an interview with dzBB.

“To help and guide those in Metro Manila, we have decided that this week, we will come up with a list of parks that children could go to,” MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos said in a mix of Filipino and English in an interview with The STAR yesterday.

However, he said the maximum capacity should always be followed and minimum health protocols are in place.

“This is with the caveat that the (allowable maximum capacity) is in mind, because (these parks) could become super spreaders if a lot of people go there,” he added.

Abalos also reminded that there was already a previous decision allowing children and senior citizens to exercise outside their homes.

“So, this is just an input so they would be reminded,” he said, adding they should still wear face masks and follow social distancing.

The mayors are still trying to harmonize everything “in the coming days,” the chairman said, as he acknowledged that the order is already enforced, especially in open spaces.

“We are just trying to come up with guidelines regarding those we could identify that are really open spaces within Metro Manila, and it is possible to add some more protocols,” he said.

“Just give us an additional few more days about this, but we agree with the IATF… As much as possible, we are trying to harmonize everything so there would be a single stance in Metro Manila,” he added.

The Department of Tourism (DOT,) meanwhile, lauded the decision of the IATF.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the policy is good for the physical and mental health of both adults and children.

“This is an opportunity for families to visit outdoor destinations, such as Intramuros, with their children and fully vaccinated seniors. Staying active, while fully practicing health and safety protocols, is one of the best ways for both adults and children to be mentally and physically healthy,” she said.

However, she reminded individuals not to be lax and remember that there is still a pandemic.

Delta variant concerns

Meanwhile, Abalos said more preparations are being done by local chief executives against the Delta variant of COVID-19, especially the strengthening of the triage system, contact tracing and border controls.

So far, there have been no recorded cases of the more-transmissible B1.617.2 variant in the national capital, Abalos said, but he underscored the need to be prepared.

“As they said, even if just one case comes in (the region), we cannot say (what would happen). Look at what it is doing in the whole world, even in first world countries. It is better to be prepared,” Abalos told The STAR.

“Even though there are no recorded cases yet, we are ready. In the end, in the event that there would be a case in Metro Manila, we are really prepared in terms of border controls and our granular lockdowns, and our triaging, which is the most important thing,” he added.

He said that the mayors should always be on their toes, and have a complete inventory of hospital beds, oxygen concentrators and tanks, and contact tracers.

“It is not because we do not have cases right now that we would not be minding these things. It is going back to the basics and having inventories, even on our personnel on the field,” he said. – Neil Jayson Servallos, Ralph Edwin Villanueva