ACTING Cebu City Mayor Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros has supported the calls to ban children under 12 years old from going inside malls.
Hontiveros agreed with Dr. Alfredo Bongo Jr., president of the Philippine Pediatric Society Inc. (PPSI) in Central Visayas.
Bongo said the PPSI discourages parents from bringing along with them their children under 12 years old to malls, saying they are not protected against possible Covid-19 infection.
“We still do not have an immunization plan available for ages 5-11 in the Philippines. It is still in America,” Bongo said.
Hontiveros said he agreed with Bongo as the latter is an expert, saying he himself would not bring children below 12 to malls for their safety.
The acting mayor said City Hall authorities will meet to discuss the matter.
Earlier, the Emergency Operations Center said it would consult infectious disease experts and it is also considering implementing an age limit on the entry of minors who are unvaccinated.
Minors aged 12-17 are the only ones allowed to get their jabs under the government’s pediatric vaccination program.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier urged local government units to pass ordinances to restrict unvaccinated minors’ access to malls and other public places where people gather.
The Cebu City Police Office backed the President’s call, saying its field personnel observed that some children do not wear their masks properly or remove them inside malls. (CAL)