Not yet time to drop face masks – DILG, DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The mandatory wearing of face masks in public places will continue to be implemented nationwide.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año stressed this yesterday in reaction to an executive order issued by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, which makes the wearing of face masks optional in outdoor settings in the province.

”This department does not recognize the executive order issued by Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia because we have IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) guidelines approved by the President. The Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue to confront, apprehend and arrest if necessary all violators of IATF guidelines and minimum public health standards in the province of Cebu,” Año said in a statement.

He said President Duterte ordered the wearing of face masks except under circumstances defined by the IATF, such as when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and activities.

The President had earlier said he would retain the face mask requirement until the end of his term on June 30.

Año reminded local government units that the pandemic is not yet over, and that vulnerable persons can still catch the virus.

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Department of Health (DOH) was not consulted by the Cebu provincial government when it relaxed the requirement on wearing of face masks.

”Let us take it slowly and we will ultimately reach the new normal with no more restrictions. But for now, we should continue to wear our masks,” she said, adding that masks would also protect against monkeypox.

Acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar declined to comment on Garcia’s EO, saying Malacañang defers to the DOH.

In a press conference, Garcia said the Department of the Interior and Local Government should have ordered the arrest of those who did not wear face masks during political rallies leading to the May 9 elections.

”The public is sick and tired of this face mask, especially when it’s unreasonable when wearing it in wide open and ventilated areas,” she said.

Garcia said she would invoke Section 105 of the Local Government Code, which defines the extent to which the national government can intervene in local governance during a public health crisis.

She defended her EO, saying it does not scrap the wearing of face masks.

“We are not saying do not use face masks. It’s  optional. Those who would wish to breathe in pure oxygen, the more beneficial sea air, then please, let’s not bring the wearing of face masks to ridiculous levels,” she said. – Sheila Crisostomo, Helen Flores, The Freeman