IATF a recommendatory body, Palace says after Duterte nixed easing age-based restrictions

Malacañang on Tuesday denied that the government flip-flopped on decisions pertaining to the country’s COVID-19 response after President Rodrigo Duterte rejected the further easing of age-based restrictions.

Duterte on Monday revoked the approval of his pandemic task force to allow minors aged 10 to 14 to go out with their parents or guardians in areas under modified general community quarantine, citing dangers posed by the UK variant of the coronavirus that had been detected in several patients in the country.

At a news conference, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) serves as a recommendatory body to the President, who “ultimately decides” on matters under the jurisdiction of the IATF.

“Hindi naman po tayo nag-uurong-sulong,” Roque said. “Wala pong issue doon, whatever the President has decided prevails.”

Roque added the President had also recalled his initial approval of the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in schools as a precautionary measure against new coronavirus variants.

“Habang wala pa tayong masyadong alam tungkol sa new variant, stay home na muna,” he said.

“Bagama’t sinabi nga ni Presidente, naintindihan ko naman kung bakit kinakailangan ganiyang mag-desisyon, kaya lang siyempre tatay at lolo po ang ating Presidente, ang kaniyang pangunahing concern ay pangalagaan ang kalusugan ng ating mga kabataan.”

The further easing of age-based restrictions was supposed to be implemented starting February 1.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Monday that allowing children to go out with their parents would promote family bonding and boost consumer spending to help the economy recover from the recession brought about by the pandemic.

The Philippines is expected to release data on full year 2020 economic performance on Thursday. — RSJ, GMA News