CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno Friday, December 4, 2020, said he will wait for the pronouncement from the national government and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on whether or not minors are allowed to enter malls.
"We are guided sa IATF but I think and IATF also realizes nga tagaan sad og say ang LGU. Ato nang paabuton unsay mga pronouncements," Moreno said.
On November 30, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año announced that minors are allowed to enter malls for as long as they are accompanied by their parents.
However, days later, Año walked back his position after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the Department of Health (DOH) is against allowing the minors wander in public places.
On December 1, Moreno signed the executive order that removes the home restriction of those who are 15 years of age and over, and those who are over 60 years of age but not over 65 years old.
"Kini atong pag relax, actually you will recall nga almost a month ago, ang IATF man ang nag ingon na katong below 31 but over 15 pwede na makagawas sa ilang balay bisa'g nonessential. And then katong over 60 but below 65, pwede na makagawas sa ilang balay," Moreno said.
"We did not go with that right away kay we felt nga kontratyempo sa ato because we were very much aware nga ang atong cases were rising," he added.
The city mayor's decision to loosen some of the quarantine restrictions in Cagayan de Oro came after the city logged a decline in local cases.
"I'll be very open. Ang syudad atong gisugaan ang Gaston Park kay we want the spirit of Christmas to be alive here in Cagayan de Oro in spite of the difficulties," Moreno said.
He further said that he had observed some children enjoying the city's Symphony of Lights at the city hall and Gaston Park together with their parents. Moreno said they were all practicing the minimum public health standards.
Moreno said the parents are not reckless enough to let their children be in danger and that they already know what to do.
"Eventually, kining pag deal sa virus will not be based onr regulations. It will be based on societal behavior," Moreno said.
As for Año and Duque's decisions, the city mayor said the city government will be coordinating with the national government.
"We don't want to quarrel with the national government kay pareho man ang atong mission. Teamwork ra man ang kinahanglan, collaboration, mag tinabangay," Moreno said.