Allowing children to go outside good for their mental health —DOH exec

Health Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje on Sunday defended the new government policy allowing children aged 10 years old and above in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) to go out of their homes, saying it is good for their mental health.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Cabotaje said that even as children in this age range can now go out of their homes, they should still be supervised by their parents to ensure that minimum health standards are observed.

"Maganda rin ito kasi masyadong matagal nang nakulong itong ating mga bata sa mga bahay. They are bored. For their mental health, makapag-exercise, makapaglakad-lakad, puwede 'yun," she said.

"Pero importante mag-observe tayo ng minimum public health standards. So maganda rin 'yun kasi talagang binibigay na natin sa mga magulang ang responsibilidad na 'yung mga anak nila ay mag-observe ng minimum public health standards," she added.

Malacañang announced last Friday the easing of age restrictions in areas under MGCQ, with people aged 10 years to 65 now allowed to go out by February 1.

The government previously allowed only those aged 15 to 65 years to go out.

"Any person below 10 years old and those who are over 65 years of age shall be required to remain in their residence at all times," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

"Local government units, on the other hand, are enjoined to adopt the same relaxation of age-restrictions for areas under General Community Quarantine," he added.

In a separate interview with Dobol B sa News TV, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who co-chairs the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said one of the factors they considered in coming up with the policy was the experience of other countries.

He pointed out that other countries were not as restrictive in allowing children to go out. In fact, he claimed that the Philippines was the most restrictive country when it comes to this matter.

"Kasama sa gradual na pagluluwag natin at pagbubukas ng ekonomiya itong pagluluwag natin sa age restrictions. Dahil nakita natin na after the Christmas holidays ay medyo manageable na ang cases natin per day, ito na nga, nagdesisyon kami na bababaan pa ang age restriction to 10," Nograles said.

"Nasubukan naman natin na luwagan 'yung age restrictions. Sa dating 18 years old to 60 years, pinalawak natin to 15 years old to 65 years old at wala naman tayong nakitang surge pagdating doon," he added.

Echoing Cabotaje, Nograles clarified that children must still be supervised by their parents or guardians when going out of their homes.

"Meron tayong panibagong clarificatory resolution na ilalabas na 'yung paglabas ng bata is dapat kasama ang magulang para ma-supervise," he said.

Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño, meanwhile, said barangay officials would strictly monitor if health regulations will be properly observed following the easing of age restrictions.

He added that those who are now allowed to go out should wear face masks and face shields and observe social distancing. —KG, GMA News