Health officers from all the local government units of Metro Manila will meet Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 16, to discuss about policies on minors going to malls following the deescalation of the alert level status in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said the health officers, which will form a technical working group (TWG), will talk about the COVID-19 risk of infants not wearing face masks and being brought to malls.
They will also come up with a recommendation on how to address this concern, he added.
"We need a scientific basis here, kaya nagpatawag kami ng mga eksperto para i-guide din kami (that's why called for experts to guide us)," Abalos said in a DZBB interview.
"Kung anuman ang mapag-uusapan nila, aaprubahan ng mga alkalde (Whatever decision they come up with will be approved by all the mayors)," he added, noting that all Metro mayors will then issue and implement a uniform policy.
President Duterte in a pre-recorded address aired Monday night urged local government units "to consider passing ordinances for age restriction among minors who can be allowed to go to the malls."
"Certainly we cannot allow those below 12 years old or those who are still unvaccinated to be exposed to the risk of getting COVID-19 in public places," Duterte said.
This came after a two-year-old child tested positive for COVID-19 after supposedly coming to a mall following the deescalation of quarantine alert level status in Metro Manila that allows everybody inside malls.
In a later public briefing, Abalos said he sought a clarification from Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año whether Duterte's pronouncement should take effect already, even without a resolution from the mayors.
"So sabi nya (Sec. Año) pag-aralan nyo nalang kung anong edad talaga, kung anong naakma (So he told us to study and decide which age group we should implement the policy on)," he said.
Abalos also called on operators and personnel of business establishments to strictly check their customers' vaccination cards before allowing them entry as more people are now going outside amid the upcoming holiday season.