Seniors allowed to go out to avail of essentials amid COVID-19 situation, officials say

Senior citizens or those aged 60 and above will not be prohibited from leaving their houses if they are going to buy essentials or seek government aid amid the COVID-19 pandemic, government officials said Thursday.

“Napakaraming tumawag na lola, lola, ikukulong raw ang senior citizens. Hindi po totoo ‘yan. Ang Presidente po natin at karamihan ng Cabinet members ay senior citizens rin,” Roque said.

President Rodrigo Duterte is 75 years old.

Senior citizens are those aged 60 and beyond.

“Dapat po manatili sila sa bahay, lalo na po iyong immunocompromised, may co-morbities…except when indispensable under the circumstances for obtaining essential goods and service or for work in permitted industries and offices,” Roque pointed out.

Roque, however, reminded the elderly that they need to take extra care of themselves amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nireremind po natin, batay po sa pag-aaral, vulnerable po ang elderly sa COVID-19,” Roque added.

Earlier in the day, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the senior citizens are not under house arrest, assuring them that they won’t be barred from availing of essential services.

Lopez was responding to the statement by Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez who slammed the Inter-Agency Task Force for putting seniors under virtual house arrest by barring them to go out of their residences even if many senior citizens are physically fit to work and move around.

“The senior citizens are not under house arrest. This is just a policy presented to us due to vulnerability of the age segment especially during the quarantine period,” Lopez said.

Lopez's statement was read by Palace Communications Chief Martin Andanar during the Laging Handa briefing.

“The senior citizens who are actively working, running businesses, are allowed to go to work. We will use the ID system,” said Lopez, a member of the IATF.

“[We are] also allowing those needing medical checkups and other procedures, also [those] buying food, medicines and asking for government assistance.”

Also on Thursday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año aired a similar remark in connection with the senior citizens issue.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Año said the government would also consider senior citizens who are still working and those living alone who need to go out to buy essential items such as food and medicines.

"Sa GCQ, may mga pagluluwag na tayo. Naiintindihan din natin ang kalagayan ng ating mga seniors, 'yung iba diyan nagtratrabaho pa, 'yung iba sila 'yung executive ng kumpanya, 'yung iba naman diyan living alone... So, magkakaroon din tayo ng exemptions..." he said.

"Pag nagbukas ang mall sa GCQ, iaano rin sila pumasok ng mall, hihilingin lang natin magkaroon ng minimum health standards, magkaroon doon ng special lanes at accommodation sa ating seniors," he added. "So mayroon din namang seniors na magtratrabaho pa, papasok sa kumpanya, papayagan natin 'yan..."  — RSJ, GMA News