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DOTr: Minors in NCR still barred from taking public transport

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) enforce minimum health protocols at a checkpoint bordering San Mateo and Marikina on August 05, 2021. ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/08/06/20210805-san-mateo-checkpoint-jc-013458000.jpg"/><figcaption>Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) enforce minimum health protocols at a checkpoint bordering San Mateo and Marikina on August 05, 2021. <em>ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA— Minors in the capital region are still barred from taking public transport even if they are with their parents or guardians, an official from the transport department said Saturday. </p><p>This, even as the allowed capacity for passengers on public vehicles has been raised to 70 percent, as quarantine protocols eased with the decline in COVID-19 cases. </p><p>In a public briefing, Transport Assistant Secretary Manuel Gonzales said there are still no guidelines from transportation authorities on the matter.</p><p>The capacity for rail lines and select public utility vehicles (PUVs) in the region was increased to 70 percent from 50 percent on Nov. 4. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/03/21/70-pct-passenger-capacity-for-puvs-starts-nov-4">READ: DOTr says 70 percent passenger capacity for PUVs starts Nov. 4</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/19/21/alamin-travel-guidelines-ng-mga-menor-de-edad-sa-ncr">READ: Mga menor de edad sa NCR puwede nang bumiyahe basta kasama magulang, guardian</a></li></ul><p>&quot;For the past 2 days, pinagbabawal po ng IACT, ng mga enforcers natin na magdala ng bata, na magsakay kasi po wala pa namang guidelines dito ang ating pamunan sa transportasyon,&quot; Gonzales, who also serves as the Inter-agency Council for Traffic (IACT) chief, explained.</p><p>(IACT prohibits boarding children in public transport because there are no guidelines yet from our transportation heads.)</p><p>&quot;So &#x27;yung mga senior o &#x27;yung mga may dalang bata, hindi pa po natin pinasasakay dahil bawal pa nga po &#x27;yung mga bata for the past 2 days na ini-implement natin itong 70 percent,&quot; he added. </p><p>(Those who have children with them are not allowed to ride these vehicles even if the PUVs&#x27; allowed capacity has been increased to 70 percent.)</p><p>The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in mid-October allowed the travel of minors in the capital region, home to 13 million people, as long as they are accompanied by adults. </p><p>Now that Metro Manila shifted to Alert Level 2, minors are also allowed to go out and go to establishments and malls, regardless of vaccination status. </p><p>Fairs, peryas or kids&#x27; amusement areas such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides were also allowed to operate under the looser quarantine level. </p><p>Earlier this week, the Philippines began the vaccination of all children aged 12 to 17 in an expansion of its pediatric jab coverage against COVID-19. No vaccine has, however, been approved for toddlers and school age children.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/05/21/ncr-malls-can-allow-kids-doh-says-no-more-age-curbs-under-alert-2">DOH says no more age curbs under Alert 2, kids allowed in establishments</a></li></ul><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1821663" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video courtesy of PTV</em></div>

Minors in the capital region are still barred from taking public transport even if they are with their parents or guardians.