Abalos: NCR mayors to craft rules for allowing kids in open areas

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) will craft a resolution containing guidelines for allowing children -- aged five and above -- to go to open areas, MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. said Sunday.

Abalos said that the mayors during Sunday's MMC meeting agreed to come up with a resolution containing a list of open spaces where children will be allowed to go.

"What we are going to do, we will list down parks and open areas in Metro Manila these coming days [to guide] Metro Manilans on where to go," he told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

Also, he said that certain limits to the number of people in any given open area  will be included to avoid overcrowding.

"It would be a resolution na parang guide lang naman (a sort of a guide) for local government units."  What's important is to prevent overcrowding, he added.  

Likewise, the resolution will state that minimum public health standards must be observed inside parks and other open areas. 

Abalos noted that they have consulted health experts for the implementation of the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) policy for children.

"This came from health experts. Ibig sabihin talagang masusing pinag-aralan kung open space,  ang level ng infection hindi ganun ka grabe. This will be for social, mental, physical, and health of children," he said.

[Health experts studied carefully the COVID-19 infection risk levels in open areas.]

Likewise, Abalos said that the harmonized resolution on the guidelines will be out within the week.

Earlier, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the IATF policy for allowing children in open spaces only covers areas under general community quarantine (GCQ), and modified GCQ (MGCQ).

But areas under GCQ "with heightened restrictions" -- Laguna and Cavite -- are excluded.

Roque said children aged five years old and above can go to the following places provided they are accompanied by adults:

• beach, park, playground,
• outdoor tourism areas, and
• biking and hiking trails.

Metro Manila is currently under general community quarantine with some restrictions until July 15. —LBG, GMA News