Published July 20, 2021, 8:04 AM
Mayors in Metro Manila are urging the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to suspend its decision allowing minors from five to 17 years old in outdoor areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) because of the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Metro Manila Council Chairman and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez confirmed that the Metro Manila mayors unanimously decided to recommend to the IATF the deferment of its decision.
Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez (FACEBOOK/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Olivarez, in an interview with Teleradyo, said the youngsters who are now allowed outside of their residence have not been vaccinated yet and could be the one to spread various variants of COVID-19.
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos (left) and EDSA traffic czar Edison Bong Nebrija (Photos from Facebook)
Abalos, in a statement Thursday morning, July 15, reiterated that there are many factors to consider when ntroducing changes to EDSA traffic, and this includes the re-implement the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP).
Abalos noted that public transportation has yet to return to normal operations amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, with the 50 percent passenger capacity limit still in place for public utility vehicles (PUVs).
He said there were previous instances when there were not enough PUVs to ferry commuters, which resulted to long queues at terminals or loading bays.
MMC resolution says kids 5 and up now allowed outside of malls; list of establishments to follow mb.com.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mb.com.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
(AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, also the chairman of MMC, said Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos will announce the decision of the Metro Manila mayors on the next quarantine status for the NCR.
He said Metro Manila is currently under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with certain restriction until July 15.
Oluvarez said that even if the numbers of COVID-19 cases in the metropolis are decreasing, Metro mayors still “cannot afford to let their guards down.”
“Patuloy na bumababa ang bilang pero hindi pa rin tayo puwedeng mag-relax. Kailangan meron pa ring strict compliance sa health protocols,” (There’s been a decrease in the numbers but that doesn’t mean we should relax. Strict compliance with the health protocols is still needed.) Olivarez said in a GMA News Online interview.
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos (File photo/ Screengrab from Facebook live)
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos gave this clarification Monday, July 12 even as he said that the Metro Manila mayors would come up with a list of guidelines soon in connection with the easing of rules on children going outdoors.
“As it is right now, kami po ang mga alkalde po, umaayon sa sinabi ng IATF. Pero maglalabas pa po kami ng guidelines at ito po’y para sa atin din pong lahat (The mayors agree with what the IATF said. But we will come up with guidelines for the benefit of everyone),” Abalos said in an interview over DZMM.