MMDA: Minors now allowed to travel if accompanied by adult guardians

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Tuesday approved the intrazonal and interzonal travel of minors, provided that they are accompanied by adult guardians, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced.

"The intrazonal and interzonal travel of persons below 18 years of age shall be allowed provided that these persons shall be accompanied by a parent or an adult guardian at all times," MMDA Resolution No. 21-24 stated, as read by MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos in a media briefing.

Minors will be allowed in private vehicles and public utility vehicles (PUV), but the intrazonal and interzonal travels are still subject to reasonable restrictions based on age and comorbidities, as determined by the local government units (LGUs), Abalos said.

Intrazonal travel refers to the movement of people, goods and services between localities under the same community quarantine classification, while interzonal travel refers to the movement of people, goods and services between provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities under different community quarantine classification.

Aside from the intrazonal and interzonal travels, minors are also allowed access to the following, regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status:

• to obtain essential goods and services

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• for work in permitted industries, and
• individual outdoor exercises

"Kung ito'y (minors) walang kasamang magulang o guardian, sisitahin ang mga bata, and of course 'yung kaukulang proseso ay gagawin ito. Ito'y ginagawa para proteksyunan ang ating mga bata," Abalos said.

[If minors are not accompanied by a parent or a guardian, they will be apprehended, and of course the corresponding process will be followed. This is done to protect our children.]

The IATF last week approved the recommendation to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under Alert Level 3 beginning October 16, 2021 until October 31, 2021. -NB, GMA News