Quezon City local government banned minors in all public areas in the city amid the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Joy Belmonte signed City Ordinance No. SP-2985, S-2020, or the Quezon City Special Protection of Children against COVID-19. It prohibits those below 18-years-old to stay at home.
“Ang Ordinansang ito ay batay sa rekomendasyon ng mga dalubhasa sa Philippine Pediatric Society na kailangang manatili ang mga menor-de-edad sa mga tahanan dahil malaki ang tsansa na sila’y mahawa,” Belmonte said in a statement.
“Ang kautusang ito ay para na rin sa kapakanan ng ating mga kabataan upang hindi na malagay sa panganib ang kanilang buhay,” she added.
The Quezon City mayor noted that minors are “not allowed to roam, loiter, wander, stay, remain or meander in all public places, whether alone or even accompanied by parent or guardian, without lawful purpose or justifiable reason.”
The mayor listed public places as the “streets, highways, sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, and common areas such as churches, apartments, buildings, office buildings, hospitals, schools, malls or shopping centers, commercial establishments, and places of entertainment such as movie theaters and the likes.”
However, the following were several exemptions:
- If the minor is engaged in an authorized employment activity requiring a physical presence, provided that a parent or guardian accompanies them;
- Those seeking medical attention or with medical/dental appointments provided that parent or guardian accompanies them;
Quezon City bans minors in all public areas
- Those transiting for international or domestic air/sea travel as proved by pre-booked tickets provided that parent or guardian accompanies them;
- In extreme case of need to buy/purchase essential goods, provided that no other person of legal age living with the minor can perform such duty; and
- Those attending to, or in experience of, an emergency such as conflagration, earthquake, hospitalization, road accident, or any situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury or loss of life.
Parents or guardians of minors who would be caught violating the ordinance could be fined P300 for the first offense, P500 for the second offense, and P1,000 for third and subsequent offenses.
Meanwhile, minors will be referred to the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children for counseling before going home.
Quezon City LGU warned establishments that would violate the ordinance would also face fines of P500 for the first offense; P1,000 and warning of license revocation for the second offense; and P3,000 and revocation of a business permit or license as well as the closure of their establishment for the third offense.