The Taguig City government has set the rules covering the allowed movement and activities of minors aged five to 17 in outdoor areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ).

This after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued Resolution No. 125 on July 8, ruling that “in areas under Modified General Community Quarantine and General Community Quarantine except those under heightened restrictions, children five (5) years old and above may be able to go to outdoor areas . . . provided that the child is supervised by adult/s and is in observance of minimum public health standards such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing.”

Outdoor areas, according to the IATF, refer to parks, playgrounds, beaches, biking and hiking trails, outdoor tourist sites and attractions, outdoor non-contact sports courts and venues and al fresco dining establishments.

In an advisory issued on July 9, the Taguig Safe City Task Force enumerated the allowed movement and activities for minors in the city.

“Aside from the strict observance of minimum health protocols, all minors between the age of five (5) years old up to seventeen (17) years old doing any of the allowed activities mentioned in this Advisory must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times,” the task force said.

Unaccompanied minors will only be allowed out of their homes or enter malls and other commercial establishments for “exceptional circumstances” like the “minor was instructed to purchase food or medicine; parent or guardian is at home caring for a family member, elderly, or vulnerable individual, or other similar circumstances.”

In Taguig, the allowed outdoor areas for minors are:

1. Parks;

2. Playgrounds;

3. Beaches;

4. Biking and hiking trails;

5. Outdoor tourist sites and attractions, as may be defined by the DOT;

6. Outdoor non-contact sports courts and venues; and,

7. Al fresco dining establishments in the areas above mentioned

It said that mixed-use indoor and outdoor buildings and facilities such as malls and similar establishments are not included.

The task force warned that “minors found in areas not included in the enumeration above shall be considered loitering, and will be penalized in accordance with City Ordinance No. 24, Series of 2020, otherwise known as ‘New Normal Ordinance of Taguig City.’”

The following are activities allowed for minors in Taguig:

1. Outdoor exercise, including going out to get some sunlight or fresh air;

2. Obtaining essential goods and services, including access to malls to obtain such goods and services;

3. Go on staycation together with a parent or guardian at DOT-accredited hotels or establishments allowed to accept staycation clients;

4. Other permitted activities as prescribed in other resolutions and issuances of the IATF-EID, or other relevant national agencies.

For dining, minors in Taguig “are only allowed to eat or drink with a parent or guardian at al fresco areas of restaurants or eating establishments located in any of the allowed outdoor areas” in the guidelines.

“Minors are not allowed to dine in at any indoor or al fresco dining area in stand-alone restaurants, or those located in malls, shopping centers and other similar commercial establishments,” the advisory stated.

It added, “Minors checked-in with a parent or guardian at hotels allowed to accept staycation guests, are allowed to dine-in at any restaurant within the hotel premises, whether indoor or outdoor, subject to the strict observance of health and safety protocols for dining in at restaurants and other eating establishment found in Safe City Task Force Advisory No. 29.”

Minors in Taguig are only allowed to access malls and other commercial establishments for obtaining essential goods and services. These are:

1. Obtaining medicine or seeing a doctor or other health care provider;

2. Obtaining services related to grooming such as haircuts;

3. Obtaining services needed for the completion of documentary requirements needed for educational or employment purposes, or for essential government transactions;

4. Getting necessary supplies for themselves or their family or household members, such as food, pet food, and supplies necessary for staying at home;

5. Obtaining supplies necessary for working from home, or for online learning classes and modules;

6. Performing work providing essential services at a business allowed to operate;

7. Caring for a family member in another household;

8. Caring for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.

All malls and other commercial establishments are required to “place signages at entrances and other conspicuous places, reminding their patrons that minors accompanied by a parent or guardian will only be allowed to enter their premises for obtaining essential goods and services.”

Minors caught loitering or violating the Taguig guidelines and other rules will “be placed in a safe and comfortable holding area while waiting for their parents to pick them up and bring them home immediately.”

Repeat minor offenders will be apprehended and turned over to the Taguig City Social Welfare and Development Office for appropriate action while “the parent or guardian charged with the care of the minor who neglectfully or willfully allowed the minor to go out in clear violation of the guidelines shall be held responsible.”