The Philippines has started easing COVID-19 protocols in parts of the country, granting greater freedom to Filipinos especially those who are fully vaccinated.
The new rules that come with the expansion of the COVID-19 alert level protocols from Metro Manila to other provinces have caused confusion on what's allowed and what's not, particularly on whether children can go out of their homes.
READ: GUIDE: Alert Level Quarantine System Expands to Provinces
For instance, the Quezon City Memorial Circle allows minors to visit the park. Children were also spotted at the reopened Dolomite Beach in Manila Bay.
So are minors allowed to go out of their homes?
Generally, children and teens are still prohibited from leaving their homes since the majority of them have not received COVID-19 vaccines according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
"Para po sa kabataan, bawal pa rin po ang gala ng kabataan except for individual outdoor exercises..." Roque told reporters.
There are however exemptions to the policy.
Based on the resolution of the inter-agency task force on COVID-19 response, minors can go out of their homes for the following reasons:
1. To obtain essential goods and services
2. For individual outdoor exercises
3. For travel purposes provided that they are accompanied by their parents or a guardian
For parents who are thinking about bringing their children outdoors to places such as parks, Roque reminded parents that minors are still susceptible to the virus since they are not yet vaccinated.
"Hindi pa rin sila bakunado kaya susceptible pa rin sila," Roque said.
The Philippines this month started the inoculations of minors with comorbidities as the government eyes to vaccinate at least 50 million people in time for Christmas.
READ:
COVID Vaccination for Minors Expands to More Metro Manila Hospitals