By Christine Fabro
Quezon City has released a set of guidelines establishing child-friendly safe zones in the city, after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) allowed children aged five years old and older and fully vaccinated seniors to visit outdoor areas.
In a memorandum signed by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, a “Child-Friendly Safe Zone” is an open air location or outdoor activity area designated by the Quezon City Parks Development and Administration Department (PDAD) or by the Quezon City Business Permits Licensing Department (BPLD).
These areas include open air parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tourist sites, al fresco dining areas, and other open-air areas in malls or other commercial establishments.
The memorandum states that children aged five years old and older may enter such zones for purposes of non-contact activities such as outdoor playtime, games, sports, exercise, outdoor swimming, or other leisure activities, and for al fresco dining, provided that they are accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult guardian.
“The Zone Administrator shall compute a reasonable capacity limitation for the Child-Friendly Safe Zone, which shall allow all visitors to maintain a minimum two meters distance from each other at all times, and avoid any crowding,” it said.
There are 19 parks and recreational areas included in the initial list of designated safe zones for minors in Quezon City.
These include Quezon Memorial Circle, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, Quezon City Hall Urban Farming Area, Amoranto Stadium, Project 6 Park, Masambong Park, Manresa Park, Dapitan Park, IBP Park, Camerino Park, Project 4 Park, Bernardo Park, Roces Park, Hayaville II Park, Toro Hills Park, Project 4 Park, Blue Ridge B Park, Mira Nila Park, and CP Garcia Park. – jlo
