Children ages five to 17 years old were prevented from entering two tourist destination sites in Manila -- the Fort Santiago and Baluarte de San Diego -- effective Tuesday, July 20.
In an advisory, the Department of Tourism's (DOT) Intramuros Administration (IA) said visitors between 18 to 65 years old are the only ones allowed to visit the open sites. The Casa Manila Museum was also opened to the public.
"Upon consultation with the City of Manila, children ages five to 17 are restricted at our open destinations Fort Santiago and Baluarte de San Diego effective July 20, 2021," the IA said.
It said fully vaccinated senior citizens, or those who received their second dose two weeks prior, are also allowed to go to the tourist attraction sites "upon presenting their vaccination cards."
The IA did not mention why children were prevented from going into Fort Santiago and Baluarte de San Diego despite a resolution released by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) dated July 8 which allows minors from five to 17 years old in select outdoor sites in areas placed under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).
Manila is under GCQ until July 31.
However, the IA announcement came after the Metro Manila Council (MMC) said that it has urged the IATF to suspend the relaxation of its pandemic restrictions due to the threat of the more transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).