Minors residing in Metro Manila are now allowed to go outside their homes nearly two years after they were forced to stay at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benhur Abalos said Friday.
"This is very historic because after two years, ngayon lang makakalabas ang minors under Alert Level 2. Intrazonal and interzonal shall be allowed, that is a significant development here," Abalos said in an interview.
Mñlacanang on Thursday announced that the National Capital Region (NCR) will now be placed under Alert Level 2 until November 21.
According to Abalos, minors should be accompanied by their parents and guardian while going out.
Under the IATF guidelines dated October 13, 2021, minors and those belonging to vulnerable populations must be allowed to access essential goods and services.
The following establishments/activities are allowed to operate at a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and minors even if unvaccinated, and 70% outdoor venue capacity.
- Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE);
- Permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers;
- Visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like;
- Amusement parks or theme parks;
- Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues;
- Cinemas and movie houses;
- Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education subject to prior approval of the Office of the President;
- Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and for technical-vocational education and training;
- In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased;
- Licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by the IATF subject to the health and safety guidelines as approved by the IATF;
- Dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols;
- Personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures including home service options, subject to the sector-specific protocols of the DTI
- Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for individual non-contact exercise and sports, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols. Provided that patrons/clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and that no group activities are conducted;
- Film, music, and television production subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by the DTI, DOLE, and the DOH;
- Contact sports approved by the LGU where such games shall be held
- Funfairs/peryas or kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides;
- Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters; and
- Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household.
Prior to this, the Philippine government has started vaccinating minors aged 12-17 with and without comorbidities on October 15.
