MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has lifted the age restrictions for tourists aged below 15 years old and over 65 years old in modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) areas.
In an IATF-EID resolution approved recently, the easing of age restriction was for tourism purposes; however, it would be subject to concurrence by local government units. It is also up to prior consultation with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the development of specific guidelines for this purpose.
“Any person below 15 years old, those who are over 65 years old, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to remain in their residence at all times; Provided that all activities and movements allowed under other Sections of these Guidelines for the foregoing persons shall continue to be permitted under MGCQ,” the resolution read.
“The aforementioned age restrictions for travellers for tourism purposes may be relaxed upon the determination of local government units, and subject to prior consultation with the DOT, DOH, and DILG and the development of specific guidelines for this purpose,” it added.
Meanwhile, the IATF-EID also ordered LGUs to relax entry protocols, such as test-upon-arrival requirements imposed upon airline crew layovers/positioning, due to emergency situations which include typhoons, volcanic activities, diversions, and emergency landings, and other similar unforeseen and time-sensitive evacuations.
Airline crew members are also permitted to temporarily billet in accommodation establishments under a “bubble” concept supervised by the LGUs./PN
