Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday urged the government to remain strict in implementing health and safety protocols even as it plans to allow minors to go out.
In a statement, the lawmaker said the safety of children should not be compromised in easing further quarantine restrictions for minors.
"As government plans to relax quarantine restrictions on minors, we trust that the government and mall authorities will be rigorous in implementing measures to ensure that safety protocols are observed," Poe said.
Poe said that while staying inside their homes for months "has been a real challenge" for children, the country is still "not over the hump yet in the battle against COVID-19 until we find the most effective vaccine."
"The government remains in a hunt for adequate funds to give the free shots at least to the most vulnerable sectors and needy segment of the population, and make them available at reasonable rates to those who can afford," she said.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier announced that minors may go to malls if the respective local government units would permit it through a resolution or an ordinance.