By Alec Go
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reiterated on Thursday (Oct. 21) that individuals below 18 years-old are allowed outdoors, but only for individual exercise and essential purposes.
MMDA Chairperson Benhur Abalos said this in the Thursday Palace briefing amid National Capital Region’s (NCR) de-escalation to alert level 3 which eases restrictions to allow more economic activities.
“Ang menor de edad, senior citizens, at mga pregnant ay pwede sila (1) para bumili ng essential goods or services, (2) sa trabaho, at (3) individual outdoor exercises,” he said.
He said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) guideline allows outdoor exercises for all ages “regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.”
Abalos said intrazonal at interzonal travel is also allowed, but is subject to age and comorbidities-based restrictions determined by local government units.
“Ang kondisyon na napagkasunduan ng mga alkalde ay ang mga menor de edad ay pwedeng bumiyahe, provided kasama sila ng kanilang mga magulang or ng isang adult, adult na guardian, maski hindi sila bakunado,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malacaῆang said local government units outside Metro Manila under the expanded alert level system implementation were consulted amid appeals to defer its implementation in provinces.
The government has yet to issue a conclusion on the initial pilot test, but Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it should have not been expanded if there were no improvements in COVID-19 cases and hospital utilization. -rir
