For students in central visayas: Mask rule still on  

CEBU, Philippines —  Students in basic education in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas will continue to wear masks in school, the Department of Education (DepEd)-7 said on Wednesday, September 7, several days after Cebu City lifted its mask mandate.

DepEd-7 Director Salustiano Jimenez thanked Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for allowing the department to exercise discretion in the wearing of masks.        

“We are thanking Mayor Rama that he respected the Department of Education nga discretion sa DepEd,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez said they decided to keep masking at schools so that parents will be at ease with the safety of their children, especially that even unvaccinated students and teachers are allowed to participate in in-person classes.

“Since it has been our protocol already and we don’t want nga ang fear and scare sa parents and learners mabilin maong we have to continue observing these protocols… kanang wearing of face mask ato lang gihapon ng e-kuan (require),” Jimenez said.

“We cater to all learners whether vaccinated or not … and so, with our teachers… kay if we will not allow our unvaccinated teachers to go to school, that’s another problem – who will handle? But we can do that by observing the protocols, especially the wearing of face mask along with the hand washing… we have a hand washing facility... mao nay gina-observe,” Jimenez said.

Eleven percent of the over two million students enrolled in Central Visayas this school year are vaccinated fully.

So far, since face-to-face classes began, no case of COVID-19 has been reported among learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel in the region, Jimenez said.

“Basin naa nuon nyay COVID case sa school, mapasanginlan kay wa nag-mask… maayo nga mangandam daan so we have to be proactive kay, until now, praise God, we do not have a single COVID case reported – teaching, non-teaching, or learners – because of the classes…Padayon lang unta ta… Mao nay usa sa among nakita nga can protect them,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez also said masks can prevent children from contracting other diseases.

“Face masking can prevent not only in COVID virus but might be other viruses as well, labi na nga ting ulan, uso nang ubo, sip-on, hilanat… but if you are still wearing this face mask inside the school, especially during classes, ma-stop pud ang spread ani nga virus and even the other viruses as well,” Jimenez said.

Department of Health Officer-in-charge, Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire, said children are among those under the vulnerable sector.

“I suggest that our parents na lang be more careful and for them to ensure that their children are protected especially when they go to schools where there are a lot of students interacting between and among each other... mas maganda po siguro na hikayatin pa rin natin ang ating mga magulang since this is voluntary na lagyan pa rin ng mga mask ang mga bata hanggang makatapos nung kanilang session for schools,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire said children may opt not to use face masks outdoors especially if it is not crowded.

“When they go home at pag-outdoor, pwede namang wala para maayos namang nakakalaro ang mga bata,” Vergeire said.

She is also encouraging the continued use of masks even with the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the voluntary use of masks outdoors.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has reportedly approved the recommendation verbally, said Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

She clarified that this is not a policy yet.

The lifting of the non-mandatory mask mandate will be piloted towards the last quarter of 2022 provided there will be improvements of the vaccination coverage especially on boosters, Press Secretary Angeles said. – JMO (FREEMAN)