ILOILO City – Western Visayans 18 years old and below may now go out of their homes, but guidelines vary in every local government unit.
In Iloilo province, “Wala na sang age limit,” according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. citing the province’s being under Alert Level 2.
Kids were confined indoors for more than a year due to the pandemic.
According to Defensor, the minors – regardless of their vaccination status – can enter establishments unrestricted.
There are a few reminders, though, “curfew in the province (9 p.m. to 4 a.m.) must be strictly followed as well as observance of the minimum health protocols,” said the governor. Mass gatherings are also highly discouraged.
Defensor urges parents to have their children aged 12 to 17 years old vaccinated against COVID-19.
They can register with their barangays, he said.
Youngsters in Antique province are also allowed to go outdoors, provided they are “accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent or guardian,” said Gov. Rhodora Cadiao. The province is under Alert Level 2.
Cadiao believes allowing kids to go out has “positively impacted” their mental health.
“Ang amo ‘na nga ages na-burnout ‘na sila sa kaka-modular (learning) sa bahay for one year and a half. It’s time they should go out and makalanghap ng hangin,” Cadiao told Panay News.
The governor reiterated that, at all times, minimum health standards must be observed. She also encouraged children to avail themselves of free anti-virus jabs.
Meanwhile, Gov. Florencio Miraflores of Aklan allows minors to go out, even to access “non-essential goods and services” so long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
“Individual outdoor exercises shall also be allowed for all ages, regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status,” said Miraflores.
The provincial governments of Capiz and Guimaras and the city governments of Bacolod and Iloilo also limited the movement of minors to accessing essential goods and services.
“Kon maglagaw very unlikely,” Vice Gov. John Edward Gando added. He assured that if COVID-19 cases in the province continue to drop, the provincial government can also loosen the restrictions.
“Cooperate for the time being,” Gando said.
Kids in Capiz, according to Gov. Esteban Contreras, are only allowed outdoors to:
* access essential goods and/or services from establishments permitted to operate;
* work in establishment allowed to operate ;
* access essential government services, aid or support; and
* do other activities that may be permitted under the Omnibus Guidelines on Community Quarantine, and the Alert Level System of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
Guimaras and Capiz are both under Alert Level 2.
Meanwhile, in Bacolod, minors can only be allowed outdoors if they will avail themselves of pediatric vaccination, said Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran.
The city, according to Familiaran, is still tightening its quarantine curbs being under Alert Level 4.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, meanwhile, said vulnerable sectors, including minors aged below 15 years, are “still not allowed to enter malls unless for essential proposes.” The city is under Alert Level 3.
On the other hand, kids in Negros Occidental are allowed outdoors provided they are accompanied by their parents or guardian, said Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
He emphasized that their decision on the movement of minors was based on the guidelines set by the IATF.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III, who was part of the IATF, also commented: “Kung merong IATF resolution then pwede. Pero kung ayaw sundin [ng LGU] then pwede rin.”
“Discretion ‘yan ng local chief executive,” said Bello, who was in Negros Occidental yesterday.(Ime Sornito, Glenda Tayona, Mae Singuay and Dominique Gabriel Bañaga/PN)
