MANILA – Malacañang has defended the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte as the latter recalled a resolution easing the age restriction in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) earlier announced that minors aged 10 to 14 in MGCQ areas would be allowed to go out starting Feb. 1. But the President during his public address on Monday said minors should continue staying home.
According to spokesperson Harry Roque, the President reversed the directive as cases of the new coronavirus variant continue to rise.
“The IATF was created by the President to assist him as a recommendatory body. In fact the IATF has no legislative foundation other than exercise of executive power,” Roque said in Tuesday’s virtual briefing. “Hindi naman tayo nag-uurong-sulong.”
The easing of age restriction in MGCQ areas was previously recommended by the Philippine trade department to the inter-agency task force as the government aims to “balance the country’s health and economy.”(with ABS-CBN News/PN)
