The Metro Manila Council (MMC) urged the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to suspend the policy of allowing children aged 5 and above to go outside their homes.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benhur Abalos said in President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Talk to the People briefing on Monday (July 19) that Metro Manila mayors have voted to suspend the policy because the children are not yet vaccinated and can be superspreaders.
“Nagbotohan po kami kanina, kami pong mga alkalde, mga mayors, nag-usap-usap po kami at hinihiling po sana namin sa IATF baka maaari na ‘yung polisiya tungkol sa five- year-old pataas ay baka puwedeng isuspende muna sa Metro Manila, dahil nga po mayroon kaming kaso dito at medyo tumaas po ang kaso rito. Sa dahilan po na ang five to 17 ay hindi bakunado at sila po ay posibleng maging superspreaders,” he said.
Abalos emphasized that the suspension will be temporary, and that they do not reject the parts of the resolution allowing children to go out in front of their homes or to their yards to conduct physical activities. Their appeal only covers the outside movement of children in public and crowded places.
Meanwhile, the MMDA chief said they are closely monitoring the reason behind the increase of cases in the region and if it is connected to the local cases of the Delta variant.
Report from Karen Villanda/NGS- jlo