Philippines' quarantine restrictions based on age slammed

Employers Confederation of the Philippines president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr says the government should not discriminate against senior citizens. - PI

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers and employers on Wednesday (April 29) blasted as “arbitrary” the Department of Health (DOH) guidelines barring teenagers and senior citizens from going out of their homes even after the easing of quarantine measures in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, which are currently on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Putting the age bracket of 19 years old and below, plus 60 years old and above to be covered by the extended lockdown period is again typical of the arbitrariness of [the] DOH, ” said 1-Pacman Re. Enrico Pineda, head of the House of Representatives’ committee on labour and employment.