Minors, Seniors Now Allowed In PUVs; Longer Mall Hours Begin Nov. 15

Minors and senior citizens are allowed to take public transport vehicles now that Metro Manila’s quarantine status has been downgraded to Alert Level 2, the Metropol-itan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Sunday, Nov. 7.

MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos said public utility vehicles (PUVs) may now cater to passengers aged below 18 and over 65.

“Children and senior citizens can now go out of their homes, according to the IATF, and they can use public vehicles,” Abalos told dzBB as he cited guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) for areas under Alert Level 2.

However, the MMDA chief underscored that minors must always be accompanied by their parents or adult guardians when going out.

Last Saturday, Nov. 6, the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (IACT) said minors are still not allowed to use public transportation even if they are accompanied by adults.

Abalos said he talked to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Steve Pastor to clarify the matter and resolved the “misunderstanding.”

The IATF placed Metro Manila under a more relaxed Alert Level 2 from Nov. 5 to 21 in view of the steady decline in active cases in the capital region.

Meanwhile, malls have been allowed to extend their operating hours at night on weekdays starting Nov. 15.

In an advisory, the MMDA cited its Resolution No. 21-25 whereby malls in Metro Manila agreed to operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays.

With more people flocking to the malls as Christmas season draws nearer, adjusting the mall hours is necessary to better manage the flow of traffic.

The resolution also enjoins mall operators to conduct big sale days only on holidays and weekends, when they are allowed to open as early as 10 a.m.

Under the same resolution – unanimously approved by all 17 mayors in the capital region – the curfew hours in Metro Manila are also lifted.