We've been in this pandemic for almost 2 years and since day 1, we have complied and followed every mandate the government asked us to do. We have been allowing ourselves to be a blind sheep and never have we dared to complain.

During ECQ, MECQ and GCQ months, our children were stuck at home 24/7 fixated on gadgets which resulted to affect their social and interpersonal skills (especially the younger ones). When the government announced that areas like NCR will be on Alert Level 2, we were relieved that finally our kids will get the freedom that they have been deprived of. We trusted the government that it is already safe with almost 90% vaccination rate and low daily cases. What else could go wrong? How come a city such as Los Angeles in the US or Singapore, with a little lower vaccination rates than us, do not restrict their kids to enjoy their childhood? Because they know it is more harmful to lock up our kids than to let them out!

We urge our President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte and our LGUs, to pass an ordinance based on science and metrics and not merely on draconian measures, or just because of a viral post of a 2 yo that contracted covid 3 days after going to a mall with no confirmatory RTPCR test.

Realistically speaking, people will still get infected as we are still in the pandemic, it is bound to happen. The only difference now, is that adults are now vaccinated and there are more treatments available. We have been in this "jail cell" for far too long, we have learned to live with the virus. Experts say that Covid will be here to stay that it will eventually be just like the common cold. So does that mean that we have to restrict our kids FOREVER?

Please allow our kids to be kids, allow them to visit the malls, dine in a restaurant with their family, go to amusement parks or go play games in an arcade. We are on alert level 2 after all. What is the purpose of lowering the alert level, if continue to have age restrictions?

We call the LGU, DOH and the IATF to have a unified and calibrated strict mall ordinance capacity rather than restricting kids altogether.

To the Pediatric Society of the Philippines, our children's mental health is equally important as them being safe from the threat of covid. Please support our plea to have our kids transition to the "new" normal by allowing them to go out with their parents, family or guardians. We are fully aware of the risks and we know how to take care of them.

We don't want to be restricted like this forever. We are doing this not for our own interest, but for the sake of our children and the long term negative effect of being stuck at home all the time brings them!

To parents like me who share the same health beliefs for our children and will fight for their freedom to go out, join us!

Without exerting and exercising our political power, our kids will always be confined and be kept in a prison like cell with these never-ending restrictions.

It is time to stand up for our kids since we know them better.

We know what is best for them. I encourage everyone who agree with me on this to us sign and share this petition.