The Quezon City Government announced on Sunday that children 5-years-old and above can engage in outdoor activities at the Quezon Memorial Circle and Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife.
This after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has allowed children five years old and above to go outdoors in areas under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified GCQ (MGCQ).
Mayor Joy Belmonte, in a memorandum, said several city-owned parks managed by the Quezon City Parks Development and Administration Department (PDAD) and parks inside residential subdivisions are also identified as “Child-Friendly Safe Zones.”
The Quezon City Business Permits Licensing Department (BPLD) could also designate Safe Zones, including outdoor activity areas, swimming pools, tourist sites, al fresco dining or other open-air areas in malls or other commercial establishments.
“After months of being confined inside their houses, we saw the need to give minors a chance to go out and get some fresh air in outdoor areas that are deemed safe,” Mayor Belmonte said.
Minors must be accompanied by a fully-vaccinated guardian and he must have completed at least two weeks prior as shown by a duly issued vaccination card and a valid ID.
Nineteen Safe Zones were identified by the city government and a Zone administrator will be assigned for the observance of health protocols and use of contact tracing system.
“The Zone Administrator is also encouraged to implement an hourly scheduling system or the like, to ensure compliance with capacity limits. The Zone Administrator should employ marshals to patrol the zone and remind visitors of health protocols whenever necessary,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte also said that the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) may recommend the revocation or modification of a location’s designation as a Child-Friendly Safe Zone in case of widespread violations of health protocols.