San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora will propose to the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to further ease quarantine restrictions and allow people aged 15 to 65 years old to go outside amid the general quarantine status (GCQ).
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has earlier relaxed age restrictions in areas under community quarantine by allowing residents belonging to age group 15 to 65 years to leave their homes.
But the MMC, the governing and policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) composed of 17 mayors in the National Capital Region (NCR), agreed to only allow residents aged 18 to 65 years old to be outside.
“Sana iyong age nang makalabas, right now it is 15 to 65 , but some Metro Manila cities have implemented 18 to 65 because the Metro Manila Council decided on this,” Zamora told reporters after an inspection at Greenhills Shopping Center on Friday.
“But on Sunday, I will also propose na maging 15 to 65 siyang muli sapagka’t iyong edad mga labing lima naman (to lower the age restrictions to 15 to 65 years old because those aged 15 years old), they are already big enough,” he added.
The MMC and the IATF are scheduled to meet on Sunday to discuss measures for the Christmas season.
During the meeting, Zamora said he would also propose to further ease the curfew hours and allow local government units to implement a 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. curfew schedule in preparation for the traditional “Simbang Gabi” this Christmas season.
“I will propose na magbawas kunti sa curfew hours para sa mga gustong mag Simbang Gabi. I will propose sana 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. (I will propose to reduce the curfew hours slightly for those who want to go to Simbang Gabi. I will propose 12 a.m. to 3 a.m.),” he said.
“Sana pumayag ang ating IATF para maramdaman naman ng mga Pilipino Yung diwa ng pasko (I hope our IATF agrees so that Filipinos can feel the spirit of Christmas),” he added.
The mayor said he is also in favor of maintaining the GCQ status in NCR until the end of the year.
“I am in favor of maintaining GCQ sapagkat sa ilalim ng GCQ nakikita naman natin meron nang flexibility. Sa totoo lang, mas relaxed na nga tayo compared before (because under GCQ we see that there is flexibility. In truth, we are more relaxed compared before),” Zamora said.
“Even if we’re under GCQ, all health and safety protocols are still being followed,” he added.