Ordinances still needed in allowing minors to visit malls — JTF COVID Shield

Local ordinances are still needed in allowing minors to visit malls in this period of quarantine, the commander of Joint Task Force COVID Shield clarified on Tuesday.

Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag was asked for clarification on allowing minors in malls after National Capital Region Police Office acting director Police Brigadier General Vicente Danao said in a radio interview that minors are still banned to go to shopping centers in areas under general community quarantine.

"Ang statement ni Sec. [Eduardo] Año, siyempre 'pag walang ordinansa, 'di pa sila puwede... Kailangan ng ordinansa na magbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa local government units na maglagay ng mga kanilang mga different restrictions. So 'pag wala pang ordinansa, bawal pa," Binag told GMA News Online.

On Monday night, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said minors could visit malls provided they are accompanied by their parents.

"Para na rin po sa kapaskuhan ay dun sa ipinag-utos natin na pwede ng gradual expansion ng age group para makalabas, ang mga minors, basta accompanied ng mga magulang ay papayagang makalabas at makapunta sa malls," Año said.

"Ito ay pagtitibayin sa mga ordinansa ng ating mga mayors dun sa lugar ng GCQ," he added.

In a separate radio interview, Binag said the minors Año was referring to were those below 15-years-old.

"So 'yung below 15 ito 'yung minor na sinasabi natin, as long as kasama nga ho ng kanilang guardians, matatanda na kailangang magbantay sa kanila," Binag said.

Binag said authorities are already preparing to enforce this latest directive.

Binag said the JTF COVID Shield is still clarifying if senior citizens, aged 65-years-old and above, would also be allowed to go out.

President Rodrigo Duterte has announced that the National Capital Region, Batangas, Iloilo City, Tacloban City, Lanao del Sur, Iligan and Davao City will remain under general community quarantine from December 1 to 31 this year.

The rest of the country, meanwhile, will be under modified general community quarantine. — RSJ, GMA News