The leisure industry remains in a state of limbo with the lockdown preventing people from gathering in crowded places.
This state has left many businesses at a financial loss, and one of the businesses affected is the popular indoor educational park, KidZania Manila.
The recreational site is permanently closing its doors on August 31, 2020.
Play Innovations Inc., the company that operates KidZania Manila, said it is forced to shut down because of the "massive impact" of the pandemic on its revenues.
It also said that closing the crowd-drawing play center in Taguig will help prevent "further spread of the virus."
The company announced its decision in this statement it released today, July 22:
"After five years of providing a learning experience for children, Play Innovations Inc. has decided to cease the operations of KidZania Manila effective 31 August 2020...
"Even if we are allowed to operate in the future, the 'new normal' will prohibit mass gatherings and require the children to remain at home...
"Our heart go out to our employees.
"We are doing everything we can to aid them at this time of uncertainty, including paying out severance benefits as mandated by law and providing job placement programs for them.
"We appreciate all their hard work...
"Lastly, we salute our Kals—the Generation KidZania—who have spent time with us with unrelenting passion and spirit, which we hope they will keep alive as they face the future and build a better world."
Before announcing the shutdown, KidZania Manila ceased operations on March 11 to comply with the protocols of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
The play center was launched on August 7, 2015, as the 20th KidZania branch in the world.
Its company, Play Innovations Inc., is a subsidiary of ABS-CBN.
ABS-CBN is closing down its free-TV operations also on August 31, 2020.
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