The decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) to allow children to go to malls will still require an ordinance from the Local Government Units (LGUs), the Joint Task Force COVID Shield clarified on Tuesday.
Police Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, JTF COVID Shield commander, said the LGU ordinance requirement was agreed by the IATF and even the Metro Manila mayors during a meeting on Monday.
“Aside from malls, they will also be allowed in parks because we should also give the children the chance to go out because this community quarantine has been going on for the past nine months,” said Binag.
“But they have to be accompanied by their parents and this should take effect once an ordinance is approved by the LGUs specifically here in Metro Manila,” he added.
The IATF had earlier allowed 15 to 65 years old to go out as the quarantine rules were eased as part of the preparation for the new normal. The IATF further eased the rule by allowing children below 15 years old to go to the mall.
Binag said that it will be the ordinance which will clarify things regarding the new IATF guideline.
“This is a big challenge for us because we do not have enough personnel to check on it, so we are closely coordinating with the LGUs to properly implement this new guideline,” said Binag.
The official also advised the public to check on the travel restrictions of their destination, especially since authorities expect more people to go out as some LGUs have already announced that they would open their borders to local tourists.