By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Even as Negros Occidental had already slipped into the lesser Alert Level 2 status, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday he will base allowing children outside of their homes or inside shopping malls on the policy issued by the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF).

According to Lacson, from the very beginning the decisions they make were always based on the NIATF’s policy.

Lacson said as long as the NIATF allows minors to go outside based on the alert level then they will allow it, provided that they are always accompanied either by their parents or a guardian.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who is also part of the NIATF, also offered his own comment stating that the local government units (LGUs) are still given the final discretion if they would allow minors outside.

“Kung meron NIATF resolution then pwede, pero kung ayaw sundin [ng LGU] then pwede rin, discretion ‘yan ng local chief executive,” Bello explained.

Last week, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said all minors in Metro Manila are now allowed outside of their homes as the National Capital Region slipped into Alert Level 2.

Under Alert Level 2, peryas and kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom and kiddie rides are already allowed to operate.

However, Roque also explained that LGUs can still impose “reasonable restrictions,” but they must not be tighter than the guidelines set under Alert Level 2./DGB, WDJ